Because the process of having full mouth dental implants placed is an extensive one that will take place over several months, there will be several procedures performed that will require different recovery periods. There are also certain procedures that may be necessary to prepare your mouth for the implants. For example, if it is necessary to extract a tooth prior to placing your full mouth dental implants, it will take some time for the bone to heal before the implant can be placed. Additionally, if there is not enough jawbone left to adequately support an implant, a sinus lift or bone grafting procedure may be necessary, which generally takes 3-6 months to fully heal.
If these steps are not necessary, your first recovery period will begin after the implants are placed in your jawbone. Once placed, it will take several months for the osseointegration process to complete and the post to fuse with your jawbone. During this time, it is important to continue practicing good oral hygiene habits; however, there is nothing you can do to speed this process up. Once the osseointegration process is complete, you will be ready to have the abutments and crowns placed. Although you are close to being done with the full mouth dental implant process at this point, it will take some time before your new teeth are fully healed and feel like your natural teeth.
Aftercare Instructions
To help reduce your risk of complications and have as quick a recovery period as possible, it is important to meticulously follow any special after care instructions provided to you by your dentist or periodontist. During these recovery periods, you will likely experience swelling as well as post-procedural pain. You can reduce swelling by placing ice packs over the area that is swollen for fifteen-minute intervals: fifteen minutes on, fifteen minutes off. To help manage pain or discomfort, you may be prescribed medication, which should be taken as directed until your prescription has run out. You may also take over the counter pain relieving medication as directed.
Additional steps you can take during the recovery period include:
- Do not touch the surgical area
- Avoid hot or cold foods
- Stick to a soft food diet for two weeks or longer
- Do not use alcohol or tobacco
- Do not use a straw, rinse, or spit for at least 24 hours
- Limit physical activity for the first 24-72 hours, especially following surgery
While strictly following these aftercare instructions is essential to enjoy a fast recovery time, it is also important to practice exceptional oral hygiene habits at home, such as brushing and flossing twice daily, being mindful of your diet and lifestyle habits, and scheduling regular dental checkups at least every six months or with greater frequency if necessary. These regular checkups allow for monitoring your full mouth dental implants and include a professional cleaning to help ensure you do not have to have similar procedures that require extensive and frequent recovery periods in the future. If you follow these steps, you will enjoy a fast recovery period and enjoy a bright, full smile for many years to come!
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When you come to Marin Contemporary Perio and Implant Concepts, you can expect a friendly and professional dental team. Dr. Seda will listen carefully to your dental goals and provide a custom treatment plan that works with your budget and needs. We want you to fall in love with your smile again, so all our services are performed with the patient in mind. We want you to feel comfortable in the dental chair, and to feel confident in our services.
At Marin Contemporary Perio and Implant Concepts, we aim to provide cutting edge perio and implant solutions in a comfortable and relaxed environment, where patients feel we put them first. Scheduling an appointment for All-on-4 Dental Implants is the first step towards being confident in your smile once again. To schedule an appointment, please contact us today at (415) 482-9901.