Navigating Recovery after Your Bone Grafting Surgery

Living with a missing tooth can be devastating as you are unable to perform your mouth functions normally. When you finally decide to get dental implants, there are high chances that your dentist may recommend you to see an Encino bone grafting specialist to determine if the bone below your tooth has lost its density. Conducting this procedure ensures that you do not suffer from missing teeth in the future.

What to expect after bone grafting surgery

If you have already booked your appointment with the Sargon Dental team, you may wonder what happens after bone grafting surgery. Here are some occurrences that you need to expect:

1. Bleeding

As is expected of surgical procedures, bone grafting may induce bleeding. You can expect some slight oozing or saliva filled with blood for the first two days. To manage your bleeding, do not touch the area until it is fully healed. Your dentist will likely ask you to bite on a gauze pad over your grafted site for sixty minutes to manage the bleeding. If the bleeding continues, your dentist might give you a fresh gauze pad. But if the bleeding persists, go back to your dentist for further review.

2. Pain

During your surgery, your dentist likely will administer local anesthesia to prevent pain. Expect pain as soon as anesthesia starts wearing off. Your dentist will prescribe pain relievers to manage your pain. Ensure that you take your medications as per your doctor’s instructions. Avoid anything that might reduce your medication’s effectiveness.

3. Swelling

Swelling depends on the type of surgery you undergo. Your mouth, cheeks, eyes, and jaws may swell, but you do not need to worry because it is normal. You can expect the swelling to subside between one and three days. To manage your swelling and reduce discomfort, apply ice packs to your face.

4. Watch your diet

The bone grafting recovery process also depends on your diet. It is advisable to avoid eating foods that may aggravate your pain, bleeding, or swelling. To be on the safer side, eat soft foods and ensure you do not use the grafted site when biting or chewing. Remember, you are only safe to bite on hard and crunchy foods once your dentist confirms so.

5. Practice good oral hygiene

You already know that good oral care habits promote healthy mouth functions. Now that you have replaced your missing tooth through grafting and dental implants, it would be best to avoid oral practices that may cause mouth infections. Your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic mouthwash to promote good healing. Ensure you wash your mouth well and only start brushing your teeth after your dentist’s approval.

Hasten your recovery after bone grafting by following your doctor’s instructions

Bone grafting is an essential medical procedure that can help you restore your bone density before getting dental implants. How you respond to treatment depends on your oral care habits. The more you follow your doctor’s instructions and post-surgery warnings, the more your chances of hastening your recovery process. To find out if you are a candidate for bone grafting, book your appointment with Sargon Dental today.