Healing – The First Two Weeks
If complications occur, they typically emerge during the first two weeks following the surgery. It’s important to follow these instructions to help you heal faster and avoid complications.
- Be very gentle to the surgical site – absolutely no smoking and drinking alcohol during this period!
- It is recommended that you eat soft foods. Try to avoid hot temperature and spicy foods.
- Take all medications as prescribed
- Do not use Listerine or other types of over-the-counter mouthwashes during this time.
After two weeks, you will need to return to our office for a post-operative check. During this appointment we will check the healing of your gums and determine how much additional healing time will be necessary before we move onto the final restorations.
Healing – The Osseointegration Period
It takes about 3-6 months for your bone to fuse onto the implant’s surface. If bone graft was needed to increase your bone volume during your implant placement, the healing process may take 4-6 months. If you required a sinus lift, the healing time is around 6 months.
Be patient, time flies! Think about the lifetime service of your implants – it’s worth the wait. During this healing period, keep the healing cap as clean as possible. Brush and floss regularly.
Restoration Time
Once osseointegration is complete, we will take a mold of your teeth and implants to fabricate your implant restorations. Depending on the type of prosthesis to be done, the number of appointments and waiting time will vary. Typically, it takes about three weeks for us to make individual implant crowns. More complex restorations may require additional appointments and construction time.
