How Patients Can Prepare For Dental Implant Surgery
A viable dental option for missing teeth is the placing of dental implants. If you've been cleared to have them made and put in, then you'll need to prepare for dental implant surgery in the following ways.
Schedule a Comprehensive Exam
If you've only talked to a dentist over the phone about the possibility of getting these implants, you need to go one step further and actually schedule an in-person examination. The dentist you'll be working with needs to see just how much bone there is to work with for these implants to be properly secured and remain that way for years.
The exam will be comprehensive, and it will involve the dentist looking at relevant aspects of your mouth and surrounding structures. If you pass, you'll get a notification from your dentist along with a breakdown of the procedure in greater detail.
Be Sure to Fast
Leading up to your dental implant surgery, it's generally required to fast. This is where you don't eat or drink anything leading up to the procedure. Typically, this is required if you'll be sedated prior to your jawbone and gums being worked on.
If you didn't follow these rules as outlined by your treating dentist, then complications could happen, and some of them could seriously affect your health.
Fortunately, fasting will only be for a certain period of one day. During this window, avoid any type of food or beverage. You can stay motivated to not eat or drink by realizing how much better your smile will be after the dental implant surgery concludes.
Prepare For Downtime in Advance
Like a lot of other surgeries, dental implant surgery will require some downtime to allow your body and oral structures to heal effectively. Make sure you plan for this downtime in advance so that you don't do anything to disturb your recovery once the procedure is finished.
Resting will be a huge part of this downtime. Be sure to accommodate accordingly by taking some time off and possibly getting someone to help you with chores around the house.
If you've been approved for dental implants, you're probably excited about how much different your smile will be once everything is over. A key part of this process is preparing for dental implant surgery. If you read up on the right things and do everything right as a patient, you can look forward to an easier surgery and recovery.