When Can I Go Back to Work After Dental Implant Surgery?

Dental implants are held up as the modern standard for replacing teeth. The process for placing implants in your jaw can be done in one afternoon, but you will need to set aside some time to recover afterwards. As such, one question that’s sure to be on your mind is, “When will I be able to get back to work after dental implant surgery?” Every case is different, but the following post can give you a solid idea of what to expect when it comes to your recovery timetable.

How Long Will the Recovery Process Take?

Most people are able to return to their normal routine within a day or two after their implant surgery. However, there are cases where it can take longer; it depends on a number of factors, which will be explained to you before the procedure. Here are some things your dentist will need to take into account when estimating your recovery timeline:

• The number of implants placed make a difference. Patients who only need one or two posts usually have the fastest recovery times. Those who receive three or more implants might need to plan on resting an extra day or two.
• Some people need bone grafts before receiving implants because their jaws don’t currently have enough bone tissue to support the posts. A small bone graft might not affect recovery time very much, but a more complex grafting procedure could significantly extend the healing process.
• Patient compliance makes a difference during recovery. If you follow your dentist’s instructions as carefully as possible, you can keep your recovery on schedule.

What Can You Do to Speed Up Recovery?

If you don’t want to lose too much time at work, you should focus on taking steps to ensure that your recovery goes smoothly. Below are some tips that can help you keep recovery time to a minimum:

• Get plenty of rest for the first few days and avoid doing anything overly strenuous. Pushing yourself too hard too fast will be detrimental to your recovery.
• Make sure you have plenty of soft, nutritious foods to eat. As your mouth recovers, you can gradually reintroduce more solid foods back into your diet. Make sure that you continue to avoid chewing with your implant until a crown or another type of restoration has been attached to it.
• Use ice packs to decrease swelling and reduce discomfort. Remember to always wrap your ice pack in a towel before applying it to your face. You should only use an ice pack for 20 minutes at a time.

By being diligent about your aftercare, you can look forward to a complication-free recovery and plan on returning to work in a few days’ time. If you have any questions or concerns, let your dentist know; the faster you have these issues addressed, the less likely they are to affect the recovery process.

About the Authors

Dr. Gustavo Arrechea and Dr. Aom Arrechea are a husband-and-wife team that provide Dallas patients with reliable, personalized dental care at an affordable price here at Daily Smiles Dental. They work with local implant specialists so that their patients can enjoy lasting, natural-looking new smiles. If you have questions or concerns about the implant process, such as how long recovery might take, you can contact them through their website or by calling (214) 233-9460.