Any type of surgery can be stressful. Many people have additional concerns about dental implant surgery. If you’re not sure how to prepare for dental implant surgery, or you’ve been putting it off, these tips might help.
How to Prepare for Dental Implant Surgery
Talk With Your Dentist
The first item on your list to prepare for dental implant surgery is to talk with your dentist. If you’re missing a tooth, or a few teeth, your dentist can tell you more about the dental implant process, and whether this is a good treatment option for you. If you’re missing one tooth, one dental implant can provide a sturdy and attractive replacement. If you’re missing three or four teeth in one area of your mouth, a dental bridge affixed by dental implants may be a good option.
Your dentist can tell you more about what to expect, including costs, appointments, recovery time, and more. Each person’s teeth and their health are unique, and your dentist can give you more details.
Make a Budget
The total cost of dental implants depends on a number of different factors, including how many implants you need, the health of your teeth and jawbone, the type of implant you choose, and more. Ask your dentist about payment programs and dental insurance, if available. Payment programs can help you pay in installments with little or no interest, so you can work these costs into your regular budget.
BDG Uses Sunbit To Help Patients Finance Dental Implants
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Clear Some Time in Your Schedule
After you speak with your dentist, you should have a good understanding of what appointments you’ll need and how much recovery time you can expect. At this point you’ll need to clear some time in your schedule and move anything that might regularly occur out of the three to four day window needed for your initial recovery time. If you are working, this means requesting some time off to rest and heal properly. It will take longer than four days for your mouth to completely heal, but these first few days of rest after your surgery are critical to set the stage for a quick and smooth recovery overall.
Talk With Loved Ones
For the first few days after surgery, you will probably need some help from a close friend or family member. You will not be able to drive after your dental implant procedure, so you will need someone to help you get home. After this surgery, you’ll feel tired and a bit foggy, so it’s helpful to have a close friend or family member close by for the first day or two. Though complications from this surgery are rare, a trusted friend or family member can help you if complications occur. Talk to your friends and family and ask if they can help you during your initial recovery. Leading up to your surgery date, make sure your friend or family member is clear on the details, including what help you will need and the dates and times.
Buy Some Soft Foods
For the first day after your dental implant surgery, you’ll only be able to consume liquids and very soft foods like smoothies, yogurt, or soup. To allow your surgery site to heal properly, you should stick to soft foods for about the next week, or for as long as your dentist instructs. To prepare for your dental implant surgery, you may want to stock up on your favorite soft foods so you have them on hand.
Prepare to Relax and Heal
Leading up to our surgery, you should also mentally prepare to take some time off, relax, and heal. Make sure any physically intense or stress-inducing projects are wrapped up. For two to six days after your surgery, you should avoid physical labor, such as intense work-outs, yard work, or heavy lifting. For the first day, you’ll probably feel tired and mentally foggy, so you should plan to rest fully for the whole day. You should feel better on day two, but you should still take it easy and rest as much as possible, so consider catching up on a TV series you like, reading a book, or doing another relaxing activity. These will help your first days of healing go smoothly, and set you up for an easy healing process overall.
As you prepare for dental implant surgery, consider the benefits you’ll enjoy once your mouth has healed. Your teeth will be restored, and you’ll be able to chew, speak, and smile comfortably again. If you have questions about dental implant surgery or what to expect, schedule a consultation with a BDG dentist today.
