If you’re currently unable to get dental implants due to a lack of bone density in your jaw, a bone grafting procedure may be recommended to correct the issue. Of course, once bone grafting is complete, your mouth will need some time to recover. In order to ensure that you’re fully prepared for your oral surgery, here’s a brief summary of what to expect after bone grafting and how you can make sure your recovery goes smoothly.
What Happens After a Bone Grafting Procedure?
After your bone grafting procedure is complete, you will need to spend the remainder of the day resting. The exact amount of time you need to stay at home can vary depending on your unique circumstances. That said, most patients are able to return to work within a matter of days.
During your recovery, you’re likely to experience some level of discomfort as well as some swelling and bruising. These symptoms will eventually fade away on their own, but until that happens, it will be up to you to keep them under control.
It can take months for bone grafting material to completely finish bonding with the rest of your jaw. However, you can generally expect your mouth to start feeling normal again within a matter of weeks.
How Can You Keep Your Bone Grafting Recovery On Track?
If you want to avoid problems after bone grafting, then make a point of following these important tips for a successful recovery:
- Be Careful of What You Eat: In the days following your surgery, you should plan on only eating soft and liquid foods. Hard or crunchy foods will have to wait until your mouth has sufficiently healed.
- Take Any Prescribed Medication: In some cases, your oral surgeon may prescribe you some medication to take after your procedure. Follow any instructions you were given about taking the medication to the letter.
- Use an Ice Pack: If you’re bothered by post-surgical swelling, hold an ice pack over the area for 15 minutes at a time.
- Use Salt Water: Rinsing with salt water can reduce the presence of harmful oral bacteria, which ultimately makes it less likely that an infection will occur while your mouth is healing.
- Exercise Caution While Brushing: You can brush your teeth during your recovery period, but be very careful when cleaning around the surgical site.
As long as the right steps are followed, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about during your recovery after a bone grafting procedure. If you still have questions or concerns about what to expect, be sure to let your oral surgeon know.
About the Practice
At Northern Virginia Oral, Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery, our patients can receive expert care from an entire team of oral surgeons who have trained at some of the country’s most prestigious institutions. We offer a variety of oral surgery services, including bone grafting for correcting a lack of bone density in the jaw. To schedule a consultation with our team at our office in Burke, visit our website or call (703) 425-5010.