This painful dental condition can happen after a permanent adult tooth is removed. A blood clot should form at the site of the extraction, and if it doesn’t develop or is dislodged before the wound heals, the underlying bone and nerves are exposed. To avoid this condition, closely follow the doctor’s instructions for post-extraction care.
Every individual is different, but most people will be free of discomfort after a few days. If you have intense pain, or pain that increases after a couple of days, contact the doctor.
Swelling after oral surgery usually peaks 24-48 hours after the procedure and then begins to subside. Cold compresses can help reduce swelling, and it’s important to follow all the post-op directions the doctor gives you.
Local anesthetic, or Novocaine, lasts for 2 to 5 hours. Patients who receive general anesthesia—which causes the patient to fall asleep for the length of the procedure—generally need forty-five minutes to an hour to recover from its effects.
You may have numbness for up to five hours after receiving an injection of Novocaine.
You should limit your physical activity for the first day and avoid strenuous exertion for the next 3 to 4 days. Rest is essential for your body to heal. Limit your diet to soft foods, and steer clear of anything hard, crunchy, or that contains small seeds for the first week.
If you’ve had local anesthetic, yes. If you’ve received general anesthesia, you’ll still be groggy and you’ll need someone to drive you home.
With proper care, the titanium screw of an implant can last for the patient’s lifetime. The crown attached to it may need replacing due to normal wear, usually after 15 to 20 years. We often see implants lasting 25+ years.
The most common reasons for implant failure are peri-implantitis, an infection around the implant and inside the gums, and failure of the implant to integrate with the jawbone (osseointegration). Other potential causes for failure include teeth grinding, osteoporosis, smoking, and medications.
Dental implants function just like natural teeth, and they provide many benefits over dentures or bridges. Implants can’t get cavities, are extremely durable, and look just like natural teeth.
Yes, you’ll need to care for them with brushing and flossing to ensure your gums and the surrounding teeth remain healthy. Flossing a dental implant is different than with a natural tooth, however, and your dental team can advise you on the proper method to safely floss implants.
Yes, chewing with dental implants is the same as with natural teeth. There’s no slipping or difficulty with hard foods as there can be with dentures.
If the underlying bone is weak or missing, implants don’t have anything to attach to. This can sometimes be corrected with bone grafting. Other factors that may make a patient unsuitable for dental implants include poor overall health, diabetes, or a history of radiation therapy in the face and neck.