Understanding Dental Implants: Candidacy and Recovery

• ✓A good candidate usually has healthy gums, enough jawbone and good oral hygiene.
• ✓Smoking, untreated gum disease and some medical conditions can affect healing, and a dentist assesses each case individually.
• ✓Mild swelling and soreness for a few days is common, and your dentist will tell you how to manage it.
• ✓The bone needs weeks to months to bond with the implant before the final crown is fitted.
• ✓Severe pain, spreading swelling, fever or an implant that feels loose are reasons to call your dentist.

• ✓You are missing one or more teeth, or your dentures are loose and uncomfortable
• ✓Your gums are healthy, or any gum disease has been treated first
• ✓You have enough jawbone, or bone grafting is possible to build it up
• ✓You keep your mouth clean and are willing to attend regular check-ups
• ✓You do not smoke, or you are willing to stop
• ✓Your general health is stable

Being a good candidate is not about age alone. Healthy adults of many ages can be considered, and your dentist confirms suitability after an examination and X-rays.

These do not always rule out implants, but they can affect healing, so tell your dentist about them.

• ✓Gum disease that has not been treated
• ✓Smoking or chewing tobacco, paan or gutkha
• ✓Diabetes that is not well controlled
• ✓Previous radiation treatment to the jaw
• ✓Medicines that affect bone, such as some treatments for osteoporosis or cancer
• ✓Teeth grinding, which can put extra force on implants

Your dentist examines your teeth and gums, reviews your medical history and medicines, and uses X-rays to see how much healthy bone you have. At Dental Planet, implants are planned digitally so that the position and size of each implant can be worked out before treatment begins.

You can read about the whole treatment on our page on dental implants in Indore.

Recovery differs from person to person, so treat this as a general guide and follow your own dentist's instructions.

• ❖The day of surgery: the area stays numb for a few hours. Some light oozing is normal, and you will be told how long to bite on gauze.
• ❖The first few days: swelling, bruising and soreness are common. Cold compresses, soft cool foods and any medicines your dentist prescribes help, and smoking should be avoided.
• ❖The first one to two weeks: discomfort settles. Stitches, if used, are removed or dissolve, and you keep to soft foods and avoid chewing on the implant site.
• ❖Weeks to months: the jawbone gradually bonds with the implant. The time this takes depends on your bone and whether grafting was needed.
• ❖The final crown: once healing is complete, the crown, bridge or denture is fitted, followed by check-ups to make sure everything is comfortable.

• ✓Follow your dentist's aftercare instructions exactly and take medicines as prescribed
• ✓Use a cold compress on the face during the first day if you are advised to
• ✓Eat soft, cool foods at first and chew on the other side
• ✓Avoid smoking, and avoid strenuous exercise for the first few days if advised
• ✓Keep your mouth clean by brushing gently and rinsing as directed
• ✓Attend every follow-up appointment

• ✓Severe pain that gets worse after the first few days
• ✓Swelling that spreads, or a fever
• ✓Bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure
• ✓An implant or crown that feels loose
• ✓A bad taste or pus around the implant

Difficulty breathing or swallowing needs emergency medical care. For ongoing care of an implant, see our dental implants in Indore page, or read about crowns, bridges and dentures if a bridge or denture is planned.

• ❖All dental services in Indore: general, cosmetic and specialist care.
• ❖Dental implants in Indore: the full treatment guide, process and FAQs.
• ❖Crowns, bridges and dentures in Indore: other ways to replace missing teeth.
• ❖Root canal treatment in Indore: when a tooth can be saved instead.