As there are no open wounds after implant surgery, the healing is quite uneventful. Some minor discomfort like pain and swelling is expected but it is managed with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication such as Ibuprofen or similar medication. Generally dental implant procedure is very well tolerated and the pain experienced is not unlike one faced after other dental procedures such as fillings and extractions. Once the anesthesia take effect, patients do not feel any pain. After the procedure, pain relief medications such as Panadol is prescribed at regular intervals.

It depends on the number and location of the implants, but simple, uncomplicated dental implant placement usually takes about an hour.

Soon after implant surgery, the patients are advised to avoid eating hot food until anesthesia wears away. It’s generally advisable to avoid chewing from the side of the surgery. A good rule of thumb is to eat soft, nutritious foods and keep well hydrated. Your periodontist will recommend a diet and instructions on how to care for your new implants during healing.

The entire process usually takes about three to nine months, depending on your treatment plan. There are two main phases: First the implants have to heal by fusing to the bone, and then the tooth replacement restorations have to be fabricated and attached.

Once a dental implant has fused to the bone successfully and it is functional, it should last many years if cared for properly. Many implants have now been in place for more than 40 years.

Rejection of dental implants because of an allergy to titanium is extraordinarily rare, but it can happen. Occasionally an implant also doesn’t “take” or fuse to the bone the first time, either because it develops a capsule of fibrous tissue around it instead of fusing to the bone, or it gets infected. In either case it is simply removed and the site is allowed to heal. Then your surgeon can place another implant, which will integrate with the bone normally.

Expense is always relative. For example, dental implants may be a little more expensive than fixed bridgework to place initially, but since they last so much longer, over time they are much more cost-effective.