How Long Should I Stay Home from Work After Dental Implant Surgery?

If you’re having dental implants placed soon, you probably couldn’t be more excited to look and feel like you have your natural teeth back. Of course, you already know you’re going to need to take a day off from work for the procedure, but how long after that will you be able to return to work? The answer isn’t the same for every patient. Below are some important factors that can affect how long you should stay home from work after dental implant surgery.

The Number of Implants You’re Receiving

Getting a dental implant is a major change, and it can take your body some time to adjust to it. The more implant posts are placed, the more time your body will generally need to recover. If you’re getting more than one or two implants at the same time, plan on spending at least an additional day or two at home to let the post-op bleeding, swelling, and soreness subside.

Pre-Existing Conditions

Various medical factors should also be factored into your dental implant recovery timeline. For example, it may take longer for your body to heal if you have diabetes, a compromised immune system, hormonal imbalance, or similar conditions.

Your dental implant specialist will let you know how any medical issues will affect your healing process. Some conditions may require you to take several days or even a week to recover.

Your Commitment to Following Post-Op Guidelines

No matter your medical history or how many implants you’re getting, your periodontist will make sure that you’re sent home with detailed instructions to follow in the days after your procedure. To minimize the timespan of your recovery, it’s best to stick to these guidelines as closely as possible. While every patient’s post-op guidelines might be slightly different, they’ll typically include:

• Keeping your mouth clean.
• Avoiding alcohol and tobacco.
• Eating only liquids or soft foods.
• Taking your prescribed antibiotics, pain relievers, or other medications as directed.
• Drinking plenty of water.
• Refraining from strenuous physical activity.

The Type of Job You Have

Perhaps most importantly, the nature of your job will affect the amount of time you should stay home. As with any type of surgery, recovering from dental implant placement can take longer and cause more unpleasant symptoms if you overexert yourself. Exercise takes blood away from the surgical site and to the muscles being used, resulting in delayed healing as well as increased swelling, bleeding, and general discomfort.

If your job is mostly sedentary (if you work in an office, for example), you’ll most likely be able to return to work after just a day or two. However, if your job requires manual labor, or even being on your feet for several hours at a time, you may want to take three or four days off at minimum. Otherwise, you risk complicating your recovery.

Whether you’re replacing one missing tooth or an entire row, dental implants in Huntington Beach, CA are an excellent way to get your smile back. As long as you take plenty of time to rest after the surgery, your new teeth should stand the test of time!

About the Author

As a board-certified periodontist, Dr. Justin Braga is a true expert when it comes to restoring smiles with dental implants. In addition to being a Clinical Associate Professor of Periodontics at the University of Southern California, he also places dental implants at Huntington Beach Periodontics & Dental Implants. To learn more about the process and what to expect afterward, you can contact him via his website or by calling 714-587-9094.