What Will Your Recovery Look Like After a Dental Bone Graft?

Bone grafting is often necessary before dental implant placement; it ensures that there’s enough bone in the jaw to bond with and support the implant posts. If you’re planning on having bone grafting performed, then you should make sure that you’re fully prepared for what comes afterward – namely, the recovery process. Below is some helpful information regarding what will happen after a bone graft as well as what you can do to take care of your mouth while it heals.

What Happens After a Bone Graft?

Bone grafting involves opening the gums so that grafting material can be applied to parts of the jaw where bone density is lacking. As such, once the procedure is complete, you are likely to experience some discomfort in your gums for a little while. You might also notice some level of swelling and bruising.

It will be necessary to take some time off of work following bone grafting. However, the exact amount of time can vary from case to case. You may be able to resume your normal routine after just a couple of days, or you might need to stay home for as long as a week.

Be sure to carefully follow any aftercare instructions you were given. This will help ensure that the recovery process stays on schedule while also allowing you to keep your discomfort under control.

How Can You Take Care of Your Mouth After a Bone Graft?

Below are some of the aftercare steps you will need to follow once your bone graft is complete:

• Take any medications that were prescribed to you. This may include antibiotics for reducing the risk of infection as well as pain management medication.
• Plan on eating only soft foods for a while. Cut hard and sticky foods out of your diet for the time being, and be careful not to consume anything that’s especially spicy, salty, or hot.
• You will be told not to brush your teeth during the initial phase of the recovery process. After a certain amount of time, you can return to your normal oral hygiene routine, although you should make a point of being gentle around the areas where the surgery was performed.
• Avoid strenuous exercise for at least a few days after bone grafting. Intense physical activity can raise your blood pressure, resulting in bleeding.

As long as you follow the steps above (along with any other instructions you receive), you will be able to get through the recovery process without any problems. After that, you can begin the next phase of rebuilding your smile with lifelike dental implants!

About the Author

Dr. Darrick Castleberry went to the Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry, and he completed his General Practice Residency while he was in the United States Navy. His current practice, The Castleberry Center, offers dental implants as a solution for patients in Louetta who are missing one or more teeth. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Castleberry, visit his website or call (281) 971-3440.