Dental implants are a treatment where you have a screw implanted into your jaw bone, then a metal piece called an abutment is screwed onto the screw, and finally a crown is topped on the abutment. This is a process to get this treatment completed and will take several trips back to the dentist to get it all done. Once you are finally finished with your treatments though, you may be wondering what you can expect. Read on for a few things you can expect after a dental implant treatment.

Healing Time

You've more than likely had enough time to heal from the surgery having the screw implanted into your jaw, which was painful enough, but now you have the abutment in place and the crown on top, and you are going to need time to heal from these as well. You may not be able to eat right away and will need to eat soft foods for a little while to give you time to heal. Chewing may be difficult at first, but you will be able to handle all types of foods before too long. You may also have swelling in your face, in addition to swelling in your mouth. This is also going to take time to heal. Any stitches that remain in your mouth will eventually dissolve on their own. If you don't feel like you're healing properly, or you continue to have pain long after your surgery, you should consult your dentist about this pain.

Follow-Up Appointment

You will more than likely have a follow-up appointment after your surgery, which is the time to discuss any pain you still have in your teeth or the time to talk about what you can and can't do with your dental implants. You should write down any questions you have and bring them with you so you don't forget to ask them. If you still have stitches that haven't dissolved, or you still have swelling or other pain associated with your new implants, such as sinus problems, nerve damage, or you have an infection, discuss this with your dentist.

If you are going to have dental implant treatments, you should know what to expect after you have had this procedure. Discuss all aspects of this treatment with your dental surgeon and go over the pros and cons, in addition to what you can expect after the surgery itself. Dental implants are very beneficial and can give you the smile you have been looking for with all the benefits of your natural teeth.