Dental Bone Graft Recovery
Dental Bone Graft Recovery
A dental bone graft is performed to address bone loss in the jaw. Typically, bone loss is a negative consequence of gum disease (a.k.a. periodontal disease and periodontitis). Building back the lost bone is important for several reasons, including preventing further damage and preparing for the placement of dental implants.
For the bone graft to be successful, the periodontist and patient must work together before and after the procedure. Proper dental bone graft recovery is essential to achieving the desired result. This article will discuss the best practices for dental bone graft recovery and provide useful tips to help you during your healing process.
Dental Bone Graft Recovery
Post-Op
Immediately following the bone graft procedure, you will experience swelling, bruising, and sensitivity. You must listen to your body and give the bone graft time to heal before returning to your typical daily routine.
It is essential that you follow the dosage and prescription instructions for all medications. These pharmaceuticals will help to limit pain and speed up the recovery process. You will also want to manage the swelling by applying ice packs to the side of your face for the first few days after surgery.
Diet
For the bone graft to heal properly, excess pressure should be avoided. As a result, you should stick to a soft food diet and avoid chewing on the affected area for three to four days after the surgery. Soups and smoothies are excellent food choices because they provide nutrition and do not disturb the healing process.
Oral hygiene
Don’t be alarmed if you notice small granules in your mouth after the surgery. These granules are just a small amount of bone graft material that has become dislodged. We want to keep the amount to a minimum, but a small amount is not a problem.
When brushing your teeth, use very soft pressure and skip over the surgical area altogether. Avoid vigorous swishing and do not use your fingers to apply pressure to the graft. Curiosity is normal, but pulling your lip back to inspect the graft is not a good idea. The graft area is quite fragile for the first few days after surgery, and we recommend leaving it alone as much as possible.
Physical activity
Proper rest is critical to the healing process. For the first 24 hours after the graft procedure, you should avoid all physical activity. After that, light walking can be beneficial for circulation. However, anything more intense than walking may interfere with the recovery process. Focus your attention on getting quality sleep and nutrition, and leave the exercise for a later date.
Follow-up appointments
It is essential to make all follow-up appointments so that your periodontist can monitor your dental bone graft healing and catch any complications that may have developed. If you are experiencing a complication, they can intervene before it becomes too severe. Follow-up appointments also allow you to ask questions and let your doctor know how you feel.
Sacramento Periodontics has decades of bone graft experience
Our periodontists are highly skilled and experienced in placing bone grafts. We employ the latest technology to ensure proper healing and comfort throughout the dental bone graft process. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.