Dental Implant Surgery: When Can I Return to Work?

Undergoing dental implant surgery is an invasive process that requires ample time to recover. While you may not necessarily need to be laying in bed or on the couch for weeks at a time, it is important that you give your body the time it needs to heal properly. Otherwise, you can be faced with serious complications that are not only timely but costly to treat. Here are 4 factors that will ultimately determine when you can plan to go back to work and resume some level of normalcy after having your dental implants put into place.

4 Factors That Determine Your Time Away From Work

In most cases, patients who receive dental implants are able to return to work within a few days. However, much of this is dependent upon several factors your doctor will weigh when meeting for your initial consultation. Some of these include:

• Preliminary Treatments: Bone grafting, sinus lifts, periodontal therapy, and tooth extractions are all potential procedures you might need before receiving dental implants. If you are recommended for any or all of these treatments, you can expect to take more time off work at different intervals to allow for complete healing.
• The Number of Dental Implants: When replacing only one tooth, it’s unlikely you will need to take more than 1-2 days off of work. However, if you require more extensive surgery because 4 or 8 implant posts need to be placed, you can expect this time off to extend to 3, 4, or 5 days.
• Overall Health: Your dentist in Fort Worth will consider your overall health and if you are eligible to undergo minor oral surgery. If you are cleared for treatment but struggle with some form of autoimmune disorder or chronic condition that causes your immune system to weaken, it will take longer to heal.
• Your Commitment to the Plan: Successful healing includes listening to your dentist. If you follow their instructions, you can expect to be back on the job in little time; however, if you choose to take shortcuts in the days following your surgery, you’ll find yourself dealing with serious complications that will only cause you to miss more work.

Making a Full Recovery is Important

Your dental implants require a costly investment, and if you’re like most people, you don’t want to do anything that might cost more money to fix. Giving your oral cavity time to adequately heal from dental implant surgery is essential. Not only can you expect to enjoy greater and longer-lasting results, but you can also lower your risk for infection, damage, or any other potential problem that can lead to dental implant failure.

Maintaining good oral hygiene, getting plenty of rest, taking your medications as instructed, and being mindful not to engage in unhealthy lifestyle habits or strenuous activity will help you recover more quickly and smoothly.

While missing work has its disadvantages, consider this time recovering at home to be a worthy investment of your time.

About the Author
Dr. Brad McConnell has more than 40 years of experience in dentistry and enjoys helping patients living in Fort Worth and its surrounding communities. At Harris Parkway Dental Care, he and his team provide patients suffering from tooth loss with superior solutions like dental implants. When preparing an individual for surgery, he discusses what they can expect, how much time should be taken off work, and the cost of their new smile. By providing this information upfront, patients can feel more confident, comfortable, and ready to embrace a new and improved appearance. Visit our website or call (817) 423-2223 to find out more.