Once approved for dental implants, our dentist in Rutland, MA will take x-rays and images of your face and mouth to create a personalized implant placement plan. At your next appointment, the implant will be placed.

The process will begin with cleaning and numbing the treatment area, as well as administering sedation. A small opening will be made in your jaw and gums to precisely place the implant. The area will then be cleaned, disinfected, and sutured shut.

Your mouth will need to heal for 3-6 months, during which the implant will bond with the jaw bone. Follow-up appointments will be scheduled to monitor healing progression and take dental impressions for creating the dental crown.

Once your mouth has fully healed and the dental crown is ready, you will return for the final appointment. The crown will be permanently attached to the implant, leaving you with a fully-restored, natural-looking tooth.

Following your surgery, Dr. Khanani will provide you with recovery instructions to ensure proper healing of your mouth. It usually takes about 2 weeks for most patients to heal from the initial implant placement surgery.

However, the process of osseointegration, where the dental implant bonds with the surrounding bone tissue, may take 3-6 months to complete. Until this process is finished, the implant cannot be restored with a false tooth.

After your appointment, you may not feel any pain immediately, but once the sedation wears off, the implant site may become tender or painful. If Dr. Khanani has prescribed pain medication, be sure to take it as directed. If not, you can use over-the-counter pain relievers like Aleve or Tylenol and apply an ice pack to reduce pain and swelling.

During the first week after the implant placement, stick to a soft food diet and avoid brushing the implant site directly for at least 24-48 hours. Use a salt water rinse to clean the area and start gently brushing near the implant site after 2-3 days.

Avoid heavy exertion for 2-3 days after the implant placement and focus on resting and relaxing as you heal. Pain, swelling, bleeding, and bruising may peak about 72 hours after the appointment but should improve after a week.

By the end of two weeks, your mouth should feel normal with minimal discomfort. At this point, you may have a follow-up appointment at the practice to ensure proper healing of your mouth.

Many people are eligible for dental implants without needing a bone graft. A bone graft is only necessary if there is not enough jaw bone density to support the implant. This can happen due to factors like tooth loss, trauma, gum disease, or medical conditions. Without adequate bone tissue, the implant may fail.

During the osseointegration phase, the jawbone and implant need to fuse to create a strong foundation for the implant. If there is not enough jaw bone mass, this process cannot occur properly. In such cases, a bone graft can be placed around the implant area to increase the jawbone's height and width.

Bone grafts are essential for patients who would otherwise not be eligible for dental implants due to insufficient jaw bone density.

The key to a successful recovery after dental implant surgery is to stick to a soft food diet and avoid hot foods and liquids. In the first week, it's important to avoid hot beverages like coffee, tea, and soup.

Focus on consuming plenty of liquids such as smoothies, applesauce, mashed potatoes, jello, and pudding. As you progress, you can slowly introduce chewier foods but continue to avoid hard, crunchy, and sticky foods for a few months or until your dentist gives the green light.

Include foods like potatoes, pasta, and eggs in your diet to ensure you're getting enough nutrients. Avoid spicy and acidic foods during the healing process, and refrain from using a straw or chewing on the side of your mouth with the implant.

If you're worried about bone loss due to a missing tooth, consider dental implants. Contact Khanani Family Dental today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Salman Khanani.