Missing teeth negatively impacts numerous aspects of your life. In addition to lowering your morale, gaps in your smile can make it difficult to chew your food, speak clearly, and feel confident. The good news is that there are options for even the most advanced stages of tooth loss. All-on-4 dental implants are a long-term solution for patients who are missing all of the teeth on one or both arches. This treatment requires a surgical procedure to complete. Here’s what the recovery period will look like.
How Long Does It Take to Recovery for All-on-4 Surgery?
For traditional dental implants, osseointegration can take several months or even longer. However, with all-on-4 dental implants, the osseointegration process is much faster, though the exact opportunity to discuss your needs and go over a detailed timeframe of what you can expect.
How Much Time Should You Take Off When You Get All-on-4?
Most patients only need to take one or two days off to get dental implants. However, if your job is physically demanding, you may want to take three to four days off, as heavy exercise can divert blood from the implant site and delay healing. However, every case is unique. During your consultation, your dentist can give you a more specific recommendation to meet your needs.
7 Ways to Support All-on-4 Recovery
To promote optimal healing and prevent complications, here are some steps to follow.
- Avoid rinsing your mouth on the first day. You can use a saltwater rinse on the second day to address minimal bleeding.
- Stay away from tender areas to prevent irritation.
- Don’t smoke for at least two weeks before and two to three months after your surgery. This reduces your risk of failure.
- Stick to soft foods, like eggs, smoothies, mashed potatoes, yogurt, and oatmeal.
- Don’t use a straw when your smile is healing.
- Get plenty of rest so your jawbone and gum tissue can heal more easily.
- Get plenty of rest so your jawbone and gum tissue can heal easily.
- Attend your follow-up visits. Your dentist will monitor how you are recovery and offer additional suggestions.
All-on-4 dental implants can help you achieve a complete smile for many decades or even the rest of your life. By using the tips listed above, you can set your smile up for success.
About the Author
Dr. John C. Tunnell is an experienced periodontist and dental implants specialist serving patients in the Dallas area. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Currently, he is a proud member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Academy of Periodontology, Southwest Society of Periodontists, and the Texas Society of Periodontics. To learn more about all-on-4 or to schedule a consultation, visit his website or call (469) 640-6730.