Dental Implants

[Vagus]

I know one or two people here have had the above done.
I’m due to have two done on Friday, I have a pre op and an appointment with the hygienist on Tuesday.
My question is, how was eating in the immediate couple of days after having the implant done? I’m sure I’ll be given advice and information on Tuesday but would be interested to hear from those of you who’ve actually had this procedure. Thanks.

[DeeDeeSa]

I had mine done 13 years ago in Poona, never had one days problem with them, u will be pleased with the results. I remember eating soups & rice dishes I.e mild curries, cereals, ice cream & cream caramel for a few days but it’s trial & error after that, won’t take long until your back to normal, but I did lisp for a few days lol ! But that soon goes too. Good luck.

[jno]

you'll need to give the implant sites a little while to heal over and any blood clots to go away. Probably only a day or so, and avoid hot liquids, but just try to eat on the other side of your mouth. They might suggest an antiseptic mouthwash too. Plus have some painkillers handy, your jaw will have taken a bit of a hammering.

[Atheist]

Perhaps don't go crunching nuts or other hard things. Give the glue time to harden.

[Gizmonster]

When you say you're having it done on Fri, I'm assuming that it's the first part of the procedure . i.e. the insertion of the implants into your jaw bone??
I had mine done almost five years ago.
One question would be, whereabouts in your mouth are the implants going to be??
If it's at one side, then just eat carefully on the other side. If it's at the front (like mine were), then be extra careful for the first few days and stick to soft foods for the first few days.

[TheWinner]

Atheist, I don't think glue is involved.

[jno]

good point, Giz.

And if there's one on each side, prepare to live on yoghurt for a little while.

[Atheist]

TheWinner; Glue is probably the wrong word, but they do (I think) use something to set the peg into the 'root' and the cap onto the peg. It's not done with nuts and bolts or welding.

[TheWinner]

Atheist, it doesn't sound very nice. Glad it's not us!

[Atheist]

TheWinner; I've had it done on front tooth and on molars. It's not that bad, just needs to avoid chomping on an apple or a brazil nut for a few years (until you regain confidence or simply forget about it)

[jennyjoan]

it's not very nice speaking as the proud owner of 4 of them but much much better than dentures.

[Atheist]

jennyjoan, I agree completely. :-)

[EdmundD]

Had two completed just before Xmas. Just carried on as normal.

[TheWinner]

Atheist, you are very brave, I couldn't have gone through with it!

[Atheist]

TheWinner. I'm not brave at all. But somtimes you have to accept what the world is doing to you. I have a total phobia about eyes being touched (ever since my mum, a district nurse, explained that sometimes she would have to pop someone's eyeball out onto a teaspoon to get rid of a bit of grit - can you believe that? or did I just imagine it?). The first time an optician tried to check my eyeball pressure I nearly fainted - I wasn't consciously scared, my body simply started to black out).
Since then I've had regulare pressure checks and two cataract operations (fascinating experience when your lens is removed and you can see the lovely lady surgeon manipulating the new plastic one and the lovely lady nurse is holding your hand.)
What must be must be, and it's not always as bad as you think.

[TheWinner]

the Atheist, I still think you are very brave!!!

[Vagus]

Many thanks for all the replies, very helpful.
Yes, it’s the first part where the jaw is drilled into to take the peg. A lot was explained at my previous appointment but there’s nothing like hearing personal experiences.
Medical and dental procedures have never bothered me much but I have to admit to feeling a tad nervous about the local anaesthetic injection this time as the implants are next to my upper right front tooth.
Am really looking forward to not having this gaping gap any more in a few months, although mask wearing has been very useful!
Thanks again.

[jno]

Atheist, the caps are indeed screwed onto the pegs

https://www.24hour-emergencydentist.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/content-image-implant.jpg

That bit's pretty painless

[Atheist]

Gosh, jno. I don't remember any twisting motion, just firm pressure as though he was pushing it down onto a bed of araldite.

[jno]

that's surprising - ordinary crowns are cemented on and pushed down but eventually come off (most of mine have) if only because the remnants of tooth below them decay; implants are supposed to accompany you to the grave because they're screwed in to the jaw.

[Gizmonster]

The implants are screwed into the jaw and provide a thread for the "pegs" to be screwed into. These implants must be given time to bed into the jaw - the bone around the implants grows around the implants to strengthen the bond - I think this process can take around 6 months ish.
My dentist took X-rays to ensure the bone had healed sufficiently before proceeding. When he screwed the pegs into the thread, he used a torque wrench to ensure they were in tight enough, but not too tight to split the bone open.
The final crowns are then stuck onto these pegs with "cement" - the kind of cement that they use for attaching normal crowns.