When you’re faced with undergoing dental implant surgery, there’s a lot of information to absorb, which can often make things a little confusing and possibly even daunting. We know how stressful that can be, so today’s article aims to give you a clear idea of what you can expect from dental implant surgery, meaning there will be no surprises left for you on the day of the procedure. From benefits and preparation to aftercare and beyond, you’re sure to find everything you need to know right here.

Why Would You Have Dental Implant Surgery?

Dental implant treatment is used to correct many imperfections that may be present in your teeth. This can be a variety of different things ranging from one to multiple missing teeth, abnormal growth, or damaged teeth that aren’t what they used to be and need to be removed. No matter what your reason for seeking a solution, you’re sure to find it with dental implant surgery at Dental Excellence. As a general rule, you may find that dental implants are a suitable solution for your if:

• You have a missing tooth or teeth 
• You don’t smoke or are willing to give up in order to restore your smile 
• You can commit to a lengthy healing process that may take several months 
• Your jawbone has reached full growth 
• You have a bone structure that’s capable of securing the implants 
• You are able to have a bone graft 
• You don’t have any underlying health issues that might impact bone healing 
• You want to maintain a good level of speech clarity 
• Your oral tissues are healthy 
• You aren’t able to wear dentures 

If you’re still in doubt or you have any further questions regarding your eligibility for dental implant surgery, contact one of our helpful team members today.

How Can You Prepare For Your Surgery?

Before you undergo your procedure, you will need to visit our specialist team of dental experts who will perform thorough examinations of your teeth and mouth to assess the work needed and the potential risks associated with the procedure. If our specialists are satisfied that you are suitable for the procedure, your dentist will then talk you through the treatment, explaining how things will work and what you can expect to experience both in the short term and the long term. Generally, there are 3 things we do to  prepare for your dental implant treatment:

1. A Comprehensive Dental Exam: this oral examination will involve dental x-rays and 3D images being taken, which our team will then turn into detailed models of your teeth and jaw so that they, and you, can better visualise the procedure at hand.
2. Reviewing Your Medical History: You will need to alert your surgeon to any medical conditions that you have as well as any medication that you are taking to manage these conditions - this is vital and ensures that you are kept safe during the surgery. For certain conditions, you may be at a higher risk of infection, for which you may be prescribed antibiotics to help you control the infection.
3. Your Treatment Plan: Next, you’ll be introduced to your tailored treatment plan that has been designed by our dentistry experts to best treat the dental issues that you face. This will take into account all of the information gathered previously, leading to a process that gives you amazing results while also making you feel comfortable, relaxed, and assured.

At Dental Excellence, our treatment plans are completely bespoke, meaning that they are tailored, in their entirety, to the specific needs, requirements, and preferences of the individual patient. Our expert team of private dentists in Liverpool aim to provide the most comprehensive service possible, with vast experience in treating high-profile patients from Manchester, London, Dublin, Birmingham, and other UK locations.

Care After The Surgery 

The side effects that you may encounter after your surgery often come in a few different stages, with some coming on very soon after the procedure, whilst others may pop up in the coming weeks. To help you understand the after-effects associated with dental implant surgery, we’ve detailed them below along with the timeline in which they may occur.

Immediate

These are the effects that you’ll probably feel straight after the procedure has taken place. One of the biggest immediate effects is drowsiness, which you will be experiencing due to the local anaesthetic. Due to this drowsiness, we strongly advise that you do not drive home, instead requesting that a friend or family member returns you to your home. Dental Excellence also provide IV sedation as part of our service, ensuring that all of our patients are given the most comfortable experience possible.

You may also notice that there is a little bit of blood coming from the area where the implant was added - this is completely normal and our team will advise you on the best way to manage this using the gauze sponges that are provided. Around 1-2 hours after the surgery, you will be able to remove these gauze sponges and have some food. We recommend avoiding hot food and drinks at this time so you don’t aggravate the sensitive areas. As the anaesthetic begins to wear off, you are likely to start feeling pain in the affected areas, which you can soothe using regular painkillers such as ibuprofen. However, we do recommend that you avoid taking too many painkillers, particularly in the first 24 hours after your surgery.

1-3 Days

This is the period where you are most likely to start noticing swelling and bruising around the affected area - as with the bleeding, this is perfectly normal and nothing to be alarmed by. Compression using alternating hot and cold items should help to gradually ease the swelling over the next couple of days; the swelling should have eased off enough to allow you to eat and drink hot food after around 24 hours. If possible, it’s best to still stick to a soft diet during this time, avoiding foods that are tough, chewy, or crunchy. You should also resume general oral hygiene such as brushing your teeth after these 24 hours has passed.

3-7 Days

After 3-7 days after surgery, you should see that the swelling has completely disappeared and that most of the pain has subsided along with it. Now you’ll be able to start bringing more textures into the food that you’re eating - steamed vegetables and fruits such as bananas and peaches are a good place to start. During this period it is advised that you avoid physical exercise so that you don’t aggravate your still-healing wounds. 

7-14 Days

This is the period of time when you’ll see the most improvement after your surgery, with most of the after-effects being a distant memory at this point. In the 7-14 day post-op period, you’ll be able to bring back most of your normal diet, now just avoiding particularly crunchy and chewy items such as toffee, steak, or apple. Light exercise CAN be resumed at this stage, but try to avoid anything strenuous such as running.

After 14 Days

You should notice that your implants have started to heal incredibly well by the 2-week mark of the recovery process and that your life should be practically back to normal! In this period you’re likely to have a check-up with our team to ensure that everything is progressing as it should be, then a further appointment in around 4-6 months to uncover the implant and make a final fitting for the abutment and prosthetic crown. 

Long Term Results

The first thing you’ll notice with your fresh dental implant is the natural, shining smile that will greet you in the mirror every morning. Your new smile will look clean, feel comfortable, and above all, look just like the real thing. Unlike with dentures, which can sometimes be  poorly fitted, you’ll notice that your speech remains incredibly clear, allowing you to speak with confidence and show off your beautiful new smile. As implants function just as your own real teeth would, eating is also much easier than it would be with dentures, and offer a much more sophisticated solution. With good care and regular check ups, your implants have the potential to last up to 10-15 years; they’re made from the highest quality material to ensure durability for as long as you need them. 

Why Choose Dental Excellence?

With Dental Excellence you’ll experience the highest quality dentistry in the country. Our luxury services all take place at our private smile makeover centre in the historic Liverpool Matchworks, where you’ll be able to relax among bespoke Italian furnishings in a quiet, peaceful location resulting in a premium patient experience. Our expert team will put your mind at ease from the very first meeting, keeping you informed with relevant updates and in the loop with every decision that is being made, making sure to involve you at every step of the process. Our holistic, individualised approach is designed to give our patients the most comforting and assured experience possible - that’s why we make sure we handpick only the most elite and highly qualified surgeons in the industry. 

To discover how you could benefit from one of Dental Excellence’s bespoke treatment plans designed by our dentistry experts, be sure to get in touch online or by phone today! One of our expert team members will be able to handle your inquiry with the utmost care and attention before advising on the next steps to take on your journey towards the perfect smile. Based in Liverpool, our services are easily accessible from most UK locations including Manchester, Birmingham, Dublin, London and beyond. Our specialists offer a range of treatments including Same-Day Smile, Clear X Invisible Aligners, Porcelain Veneers, and many more thanks to the elite technology that we have at our disposal!