Sometimes patients need dental bone graft surgery before undergoing dental implants. Well, there’s nothing to worry about as this procedure is less invasive. Most likely, many people never heard of this procedure. However, dental bone grafting is considered a routine practice and one of the necessary treatments for prevention and restoration dentistry.
A dental bone graft provides a strong base for missing bone replacement in the jaw. This helps implants to get a firm base. But most people aren’t aware of this treatment. You can find necessary information about it in our guide, “What is a dental bone graft?”
So what to expect after a dental bone graft? Let’s find out what happens after your dental bone graft treatment.
Mild Pain and Discomfort
You should expect mild pain and discomfort after your bone graft surgery. However, most patients report that the pain they experience is bearable and feels just like what you experience after a tooth extraction procedure.
Therefore, your dentist may prescribe you over-the-counter pain relievers to help you manage any discomfort. You will only experience mild pain right after your surgery, which likely subsides after a few days. You can also achieve relief by applying an ice pack to the affected area.
Swelling
You may also experience swelling around the surgical area, which is natural after most surgeries. Moreover, you can get rid of it by ice pack compress on the affected area. You may apply a cold compress with frequent intervals for 15 minutes with a 5-minute break in between. Repeat this for at least 2-3 days following your surgery.
Icing not only relief swelling but can also accelerate the healing process. It does so by preventing blood influx in the gum tissues. So plenty of ice can help you get through this phase quickly.
Temporary Food Change
As a rule of thumb, you must avoid eating hard foods following your surgery. As for the diet you need to take after your dental bone graft, eat only soft foods or liquids for a few days. What you eat after bone grafting depends on the extent of your surgery. In some cases, patients can only consume fluids, like smoothies, soups, or juices.
You can also consume soft foods for less extensive bone grafts, like mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, oatmeal, and pudding. Regardless of the intensity of your case, you should avoid eating hard-to-chew foods to prevent dental complications. Just remember the struggle is only for few days. Once you fully recover from your surgery, you can return to your regular hearty meals.
Sleeping Position
You will be advised by your dentist or surgeon to sleep with your head slightly elevated. This will prevent blood clotting near the surgical area. You may also avoid sleeping with your head facing the side where bone grafting surgery was performed.
Reduce Physical Activity
For the first few days following your surgery, you should avoid getting involved in any physical activity that requires excessive energy. So you need to skip sports, such as football, wrestling, boxing, running, swimming, and other energy-demanding activities.
You should be able to get back to your regular routine after a few days of healing. Just make sure you follow your dentist’s instructions. Talk to your dentist if pain persists or swelling worsens even after a few days of the surgery. It is better to know about bone graft infection symptoms beforehand.
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