You’ve Already Made Two Great Choices
You researched the options and after carefully considering all the pros and cons, you’ve concluded that dental implants are the best way to restoring your smile. Nice work! You made an excellent decision.
Your second great decision was choosing Dr. Semaan and her outstanding team here at Birmingham Family Dentistry in Detroit. You can rest assured that we have the necessary experience and the training to do the job right.
We’ll Guide You Through the Process
We understand that the implant process can seem daunting at first. But Dr. Semaan and her entire team are here to walk you through it, one step at a time. The important thing is good communication, so please feel free to contact our office if you have questions or concerns at any point during the implant process.
How Long Does It Take to Get Dental Implants?
It typically requires between 3 and 6 months for Dr. Semaan to restore your smile with dental implants. It can take longer in some cases if Dr. Semaan determines that you require additional treatments to insure the implant will be fitted successfully.
The two most common preliminary treatments we offer are bone grafting to thicken the jaw and treatment for gum disease.
Steps of the Dental Implant Process
The following list of all the steps involved in fitting dental implants should help you visualize the entire process. It’s important to remember, however, that not everyone will require supplementary procedures such as bone grafting or treatment for gum disease.
- Your preliminary consultation with Dr. Semaan
- Your discussion with a staff member to arrange your timeline
- Pre-implant procedure(s) to prepare the site (only when necessary)
- Fixture is surgically fitted
- Implanted fixture post is given time become assimilated with your body
- The abutment and crown are connected to your implant
Follow Your Instructions for a Smooth Recovery
We will provide you with detailed written instructions going over ever phase of the implant process. We’ve tried to cover every possible question you might have regarding your recovery, but please give our office a call if there is anything we can help you with.
What to Expect Following Dental Implant Surgery
You can expect to experience some swelling, bleeding, and bruising around the surgical site as you recover from dental implant surgery. The swelling should peak around 2 to 3 days after your surgery. But your level of pain will probably reach its highest point about 6 hours after your surgery.
Be sure to take any pain medication as prescribed. You might also find an icepack to be effective for counteracting the pain and swelling for the first 72 hours after surgery.
Expect Some Bleeding Following Your Surgery
Some bleeding is to be expected following your surgery. Remember to change your gauze regularly. Some patients find that wetting the gauze before placing it in their mouth makes it more manageable. After 48 hours, the bleeding should have subsided.
Dry lips are another occurrence following dental implant surgery. Lubricating ointments such as Vaseline are effective for treating this.
Things to Avoid Following Dental Implant Surgery
The following things will hinder your recovery from dental implant surgery. Thus, they should be avoided for at least a week:
- Hot beverages
- Hard and sharp-edged foods
- Drinking through a straw
- Demanding physical activity
- Alcoholic beverages
Your New Smile
When we work together, the dental implant process can flow smoothly, and the results can be spectacular. Imagine: no more concerns about smiling or eating in public!
Call Us Today to Learn More
Give us a call today to discover how dental implants are a great way to restore your smile.