It's not uncommon to have concerns prior to undergoing dental implant surgery. Generally, concerns center around the following topics: possible surgery-related complications, healing time and efficacy, and long-term functional effectiveness. However, most data points to safe and effective outcomes. Normal post-surgery reactions that generally diminish within a few days include swelling, pain, nausea, bleeding, partial numbness and brief, non-complicated infections. These conditions can typically be reduced with temporary use of ice packs, medication, moderate localized pressure, and careful adherence to any prescribed antibiotics. Concerns during the long-term healing period often include worry over the appearance of the surgical site, moderate exposure of the implant top, and possible rejection of the implant. However, these situations are generally not cause for alarm. Usually, with normal precautions and proper oral hygiene, the surgical site will gradually return to its healthy pink appearance. Visibility of the implant top may be intentional on the part of the surgeon, to facilitate the second step of the operation. As for implant rejection, it's relatively uncommon and usually related to poor hygiene, lack of following post-surgery directions, or smoking during the healing process. A final area of concern may be the implant's long-term functionality following the completion of the entire surgical process. However, most data points to a restored chewing efficiency of at least 85 percent, as compared with dentures or crowns which may provide as little as 10-15 (10 to 15) percent.
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