3 Ways to Better Prepare for Dental Implant Surgery

Dental implants have quickly become the premiere solution for long-term tooth replacement. While you may be excited to get your tooth replaced and complete your smile, whether you recently lost a tooth or are looking to replace a denture, it’s understandable if you’re feeling nervous or uneasy. However, there are a few ways to better prepare for your surgery that you can do beforehand. If you know that you want dental implants in Huntington Beach, here’s what you should do before your actual surgery.

Know the Questions to Ask During the Consultation

When you visit a periodontist to discuss your future tooth replacement, it’s not just recommended that you ask questions during this consultation, but strongly encouraged. No one is going to know how to better prepare for dental implants than the person placing the implants themselves. For starters, you can ask them questions like:

• How early should I arrive?
• Will I need someone to drive me to and from the office?
• Should I avoid eating 12 hours before surgery?
• Do you have sedation dentistry available?
• What can I eat after surgery?
• How do I practice oral care after surgery?

Plan for What Comes Immediately After Surgery

What comes after your oral surgery will depend on a few different factors. For example, if you decide to receive sedation dentistry, you will likely need to have a friend or family member drive you to and from the practice. This is particularly true if you choose oral conscious or IV sedation, two options that are quite powerful.

Additionally, you may want to purchase groceries that are more ideal for a soft diet. That way, you don’t have to worry about traveling or asking others to shop on your behalf while you rest. Instead, you can focus your attention on healing.

Clear Your Schedule the Day of (and Even After) Surgery

Dental implant treatment is not much different than other forms of oral surgery when it comes to the recovery period, so you’re going to want to make sure you have time off to heal. This could mean taking time off from work, making sure you have loved ones free to manage your obligations if you cannot, or do extra work in advance. The last thing you’ll want to do is overwork yourself immediately following dental implant placement.

Periodontists want nothing more than to ensure the most successful dental implant treatment possible. When you plan ahead, you can experience a relaxing and productive recovery period. Call a periodontist today to start planning!

About the Author

Dr. Justin Braga always breaks down the implant process with patients one-on-one to ensure they feel comfortable and prepared for the steps that come after. During your consultation, he’ll explain each phase of treatment, what to expect during the procedure, and how to perform aftercare that’s conducive to your future tooth replacement’s health and longevity. To set up an implant consultation, you can contact him through his website.