Your gums may take a while to heal after dental implant surgery. Most patients start noticing improvements a week after surgery, and the gums completely heal within two weeks after the procedure.

On average, it may take six to eight months for dental implants to settle. But healing could take nine months to a year if you had a bone graft. That recovery period is necessary because it allows the implant to stick onto the jawbone for support. Your dentist may ask you to avoid eating crunchy, hard, or spicy foodstuffs during that time.
 

Stages of Dental Implant Healing

Before getting dental implants, it is important to understand the healing process. Based on your case, healing takes place in stages that can last six to 12 months.
 

Stage One: Before Placing the Implant

Before placing the dental implant, your dentist will examine your teeth and jawbone health. If your teeth and jawbone are in good shape, the dentist may place the implant immediately.

However, you may require dental treatment if your tooth is damaged or the jaw has insufficient bone thickness. Tooth damage may require extraction before fixing an implant. Your dentist may place the implant immediately after tooth removal or wait up to 10 weeks for the gum to heal before putting an implant.

If your jawbone has undergone bone grafting, your dentist will wait until the bone graft completely fuses with the jawbone before installing the implant. The first recovery stage after a bone graft takes around two weeks. A full recovery may take up to nine months. Your dentist may schedule your implant surgery two weeks after the bone graft.
 

Stage Two: After Placing the Implant

At stage two, your gum is recovering from the implant surgery. Healing may take about two weeks after the implant is securely placed. During that time, it is crucial to keep your teeth and mouth clean as the implant heals. Avoid brushing the treated area directly to prevent bleeding and irritation.

Stage Three: Fixing the Support (Abutment)

After the implant attaches to your jaw, your dentist will fix the abutment. The abutment is the support structure that joins the implant to the dental crown. Without it, the dental crown will not stay in place.

The dentist places the abutment and seals the gum tissue around it. The gum tissue wraps around the abutment but not over the implant. Recovery may take two to four weeks. Your dentist may prescribe pain relievers to soothe minor discomfort and swelling after the treatment.
 

Stage Four: Placing the Dental Crown

After your gums heal and securely wrap around the abutment, the dentist will take your teeth impressions. That ensures your dental crown perfectly matches your natural teeth. Once your dental crown is ready for placement, the dentist joins it to the dental implant. That ends the treatment, leaving you with a renewed smile.
 

Conclusion

The dental implant process can be long, but its benefits are amazing. It restores your ability to eat, talk, and smile confidently while promoting your dental health. Talk to your dentist if you wish to replace damaged or missing teeth with dental implants.

For more about dental implants, visit SA Dental at our office in Santa Ana, California. Call (714) 852-3140 to book an appointment today.