How Serious Is Dental Implant Surgery?

Losing your natural tooth can leave unsightly gaps in the mouth, affecting your aesthetics, dental health, bite function, speech, and jawbone health. Whether you’ve lost teeth due to decay, advanced gum disease, or dental trauma, dental implants are a reliable tooth replacement solution to improve your natural smile, bite function, and oral health.

Since dental implant placement requires oral surgery, most patients are often concerned about the seriousness of the procedure. Most people are worried about experiencing unbearable pain and discomfort or complications. However, that’s not the case. This article discusses a few aspects of dental implant surgery to help you understand the treatment before deciding.

What is dental implant surgery?

It’s a surgical procedure of placing implant posts (titanium or zirconia) into the jawbone. The implant posts act like a substitute for your missing teeth roots. Over time, the implant posts integrate with the underlying bone in the process of osseointegration. It can take about 3 – 6 months.

Once osseointegration is complete, a dental prosthetic is placed over the implant post to act like the artificial tooth. The prosthetic gives the implant the overall appearance or aesthetics of your natural teeth. For dental implants near you, contact our dentist in Rifle, CO.

Is Dental Implants Surgery Serious?

Since dental implant placement requires surgical intervention, the procedure requires specialized skills and precision for a successful treatment. Problems during placement can result in numerous side effects and complications like nerve damage, damage to oral tissues, infections, poor bite, and implant failure.

Working with a highly qualified and experienced oral surgeon will improve your chances of successful tooth replacement. Thus, dental implant surgery is considered a serious procedure. However, the level of seriousness can vary based on the location of the implant, the patient’s oral health and jawbone density, and the implant placement technique.

Are Dental Implants Extremely Painful?

Many dental implant patients are worried about the degree of pain they can expect during the procedure. However, just because dental implants involve surgery doesn’t mean it’s extremely painful.

You’ll be numbed and sedated during oral surgery to prevent pain or discomfort. However, after the surgery, the anesthetic will wear off. Then, you might experience minor pain or discomfort around the implant. You can also expect other side effects like minor swelling and light bleeding.

Fortunately, your surgeon will give you pain medications and other instructions to manage your symptoms and promote a speedy recovery. With proper aftercare practices, these side effects should fade away in a few days. Other factors that can influence your overall recovery include your overall oral and health status and the complexity of your procedure.

Common tips for minimizing pain and promoting a speedy recovery after dental implant surgery include:

• Proper rest. Avoid strenuous activities for at least 48 hours.
• Soft diet. For the next few days, opt for soft foods that require minimal or no chewing to avoid disturbing the surgical site.
• Take medication as prescribed. Strictly take medications as your surgeon directs to minimize pain, swelling, and infections.
• Cold therapy. Apply ice packs against the surgical site to minimize pain and swelling.
• Maintain excellent oral hygiene. Keep your mouth and surgical site clean to prevent infections. Follow your surgeon’s instructions about when you can resume normal brushing and flossing.
• Do not disturb the implant. Avoid touching the implant with your finger or tongue.
• Avoid tobacco and alcohol use. Smoking and drinking alcohol can delay wound healing, leading to infections and other complications.

Is Dental Implant Minor or Major Surgery

Generally, whether or not your implant surgery is minor or major can vary based on several factors. For instance, placing a single implant in a healthy jawbone can be considered minor surgery. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia and is typically pretty fast.

However, placing multiple implants or full-mouth tooth replacement may be a major surgical procedure. In such cases, you may require general anesthesia. Similarly, placing a zygomatic dental implant is complex, as the implants are anchored to the zygomatic or cheekbone. Thus, the procedure can be considered a major surgery.

Whether minor or major, working with a highly trained and experienced oral surgeon significantly increases your dental implant success rate and lowers the risk of complications.

Visit our office for dental implants in Rifle, CO.

Are you ready to transform your smile and oral function with dental implants? Contact Rifle Dental Care to book your appointment today.