4 Great Tips to Recover After Bone Grafting

Each person desires to have a gorgeous smile. You may be considering how to enhance your tooth row by undergoing braces or dental implants. In this case, you should know that first of all you need to have enough bone and gum tissue. If you have some problems with this, you may consult your dentist about an approach called bone grafting.

In short, the volume and density of your jaw are increased in areas of bone loss through a dental bone graft. The bone graft material may be obtained from an animal or human tissue bank, as well as from your own body. The substance used for the bone graft may occasionally be synthetic. 

Healing could take several weeks or nine months, based on the condition of the bone and the size of the graft. You will be led to a recovery room with equipment after the treatment to track your recovery and ensure your safety. Please feel free to ask your nurse any questions you may have. When you return home you will still require proper oral care. For your convenience here are four tips to help you maintain the healing process.

1. Consume soft foods
You should refrain from consuming items that are tough, chewy, or crunchy while your mouth heals in the days after the treatment. It is preferable to keep to a diet high in soft foods, such as yogurt, bread, soft fruits and vegetables (including bananas and avocados), and creamy soups, which are typically completely safe. When you are ready to resume normal eating, chew on the opposite side of your mouth. A bone graft is, in general, a normal treatment from which you will from recover quickly. Do not hesitate to contact your dentist if you have any queries about your particular situation.

2. Don’t hurry
The length of time needed for bone transplant healing differs from patient to patient and is mostly determined by the type of grafting technique used. Block bone grafts, which involve inserting a substantial piece of grafting material into the jaw, may require a lengthier recovery period than particle grafts (where grainy, bone-like material is used).

How long it takes you to feel like yourself again will depend on a number of things, including your general health. Numerous people discover that their gums heal in a matter of weeks. Your bone will need more time to heal (perhaps several months), but once your soft tissues have recovered, you should feel no pain.

3. Follow all medication instructions provided by your dentist
After the grafting surgery, patients may feel pain and discomfort for up to 10 days. In order to treat discomfort or avoid infection, your dentist may recommend antibiotics. When there is swelling, anti-inflammatories are occasionally recommended. A rehabilitating patient must follow the dentist's prescription instructions to the letter. Because they can cause nausea when taken on an empty stomach, these medications should only ever be taken after meals.

4. Use cold 
Apply an ice pack to the side of your face where the procedure was done as soon as possible. If you don't have an ice pack, you may use a bag of frozen vegetables or a plastic bag containing ice. For 24 to 48 hours, alternate 15 minutes of application and removal from the ice pack.  Cover the cold with a cloth, to avoid damaging your skin. This will lessen edema. Remember that swelling usually doesn't reach its peak until two to three days following surgery.

The bottom line:
Sure, proper oral hygiene is crucial in this case. You need to brush and floss (where it is possible) gently. Ask your oral surgeon about rinsing with salt warm water. Avoid excessive physical activities and get enough rest.