West Hollywood Dentist

One of the Most Trusted Holistic Dentists in Los Angeles, CA

7865 Santa Monica Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90046
(323) 654-2840

With A quarter century experience in dentistry, West Hollywood Holistic and Cosmetic Dentistry offers most dental treatments in one office. Call us today to schedule your free dental consultation.

How Long Is the Dental Implant Recovery Process?

Bone Graft Dental Implants

How Long Is the Dental Implant Recovery Process?

Dental Implant Recovery Process is usually 6 to 9 months. A dental implant is a tooth replacement that gets mounted in your jawbone using a titanium rod. A crown is placed on the titanium implant, filling the gap left by the missing tooth.

Dental implants are becoming the most common placement option for teeth that have been lost because of infection, injury, cavity, or other forms of decay. Dental implants are popular because they can:

• Restore function
• Maintain health
• Improve self-confidence
• Be worn comfortably
• Last a lifetime

Perspective dental implant patients living in LA are understandably concerned about the cost of dental implants in Los Angeles. Once they realize that dental implants are affordable for them, their next concern is the recovery process.

What Is It like to Recover from a Dental Implant Surgery?

After an implant surgery, you will experience pain that is typical after a dental surgery. Other symptoms may include:

• Minor bleeding
• Bruising of your gums and skin
• Swelling in your face and gums
• Pain at the location of the implant

Your dentist may prescribe antibiotics or pain medication following the implant surgery. If you experience a worsening of symptoms, talk to your dentist right away.

During each phase of the surgery, you may be restricted to only eating soft foods as the surgery location heals. Most dentists use self-dissolving stitches. If your stitches are not self-dissolving, your dentist will remove them for you.

Steps to Improve the Results of Your Implants

Dr. Bruce Vafa is a top dentist in West Hollywood, CA. He has performed dental implants on many patients. The key to success lies in the patient maintaining good oral health care after the procedure.

Most implants are successful. Smoking can lead to implant complications and failure.

If the bone does not fuse properly, the implant can be removed and the procedure can be tried again months later. You can improve the results of your dental implant by doing the following things.

Maintain Excellent Oral Hygiene

You should keep your artificial teeth and the surrounding gum tissue clean. Intra-dental brushes can clean the nooks and crannies around the gums and metal post.

Visit Your Dentist Regularly

Keep your teeth functioning properly by scheduling regular dental checkups. These allow your dentist to examine the implants and provide advice for future cleanings.

Protect Your Teeth

You can protect your teeth by avoiding damaging habits. This includes chewing on items like ice or hard candy, which can damage crowns. Avoid tobacco and other products that can stain your teeth. If you grind your teeth, get treatment.

How Long Dental Implant Recovery Process takes to Heal?

The recovery will vary from person to person. Typically, your jaw should be completely healed within nine months.

Most of the healing happens behind the scenes. You are not going to feel that your jaws are healing. However, you can help them along by avoiding hard foods.

The following factors will affect recovery time.

• The number of implants you receive. Recovery is easier with just one dental implant as opposed to multiple implants.
• Whether you need bone implants or have healthy bones.
• Health issues affecting your body’s ability to heal.
• Whether you adhere to your dentist’s instructions and treatment plan.
• Diabetes and smoking tobacco affect circulation and prolong healing time.

How Long Do I Have to Wait after an Extraction to Get an Implant?

Getting a tooth extracted is a major oral health procedure. You will typically need to wait at least 10 weeks after the extraction before implants can be placed. These 10 weeks let your mouth heal properly after the tooth extraction.

As with every rule, there are some exceptions. Dr. Bruce Vafa, an award-winning dentist in West Hollywood, CA, has had some patients who were able to get implants sooner. Others need to wait longer than 10 weeks for their gums to heal. Each case is evaluated on its own merits.

If you have a healthy jawbone, you might even be able to get the implant on the same day the tooth is removed. However, bone loss or infection may mean that bone grafting is required before the implant can be performed. The complexity of the procedure will impact the cost of dental implants in Los Angeles.

Do Dental Implants Hurt?

In most cases, the procedure is painless. This is because an anesthetic is used during the procedure. However, once the anesthetic wears off, you may experience some discomfort. The experience will vary from individual to individual based on their tolerance for pain and the complexity of their treatment.

Some patients will require prescription medications, such as Vicodin. However, others can manage the pain with over-the-counter drugs. Your dentist can give more specific instructions on the pain management that will be offered.

In most cases, dental implants are a straightforward procedure. You should only experience a moderate level of discomfort as you heal. However, if you are worried about pain management, talk to your dentist and get their recommendations.

Will Bone Grafting to Be Required Prior to Dental Implants?

Bone grafting may be required if your jawbone is soft or not thick enough to support a dental implant. It may increase the time Dental Implant Recovery Process may take. The force of chewing exerts a lot of pressure on your jawbone. If your jawbone cannot support the implant under this pressure, the surgery could fail. A jawbone graft could create a stronger base for the implant.

There are multiple materials dentists can use to rebuild the jawbone. One option is natural bone taken from another part of your body. A second option is a synthetic bone graft. Or a bone substitute material. This material will create structures that the new bone can use for growth. It is good to discuss options with your dentist. They can help you identify what will work best for you.

It is good to note that it can take months for a transplanted bone to become strong enough to support a dental implant. In some cases, only minor bone grafting is required. If that is the case, your dentist may be able to perform the graft at the same time as the surgery. Everything is determined by the condition of your jawbone.

Once your jaw has completely healed, you will be given your final prosthesis. Once this is done, you will be able to eat any food you would like. Your implants will function just like your natural teeth. It is imperative that you maintain a routine for caring for your implants as you would your natural teeth. If you do this, there is no reason why your implants cannot last you a lifetime.

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