A Brief Guide to Recovery After Full Mouth Reconstruction

When putting together your full mouth reconstruction plan, your dentist will explain each step carefully so that you understand what to expect. In particular, they will give you an overview of what recovery will look like after each treatment and what you might need to do to make sure the healing process goes smoothly. Below are some full mouth reconstruction treatments you might need and a few important facts about recovering from them.

1. Dental Crowns

You don’t need to take time off work after having a dental crown placed, but you should have a plan for keeping soreness and sensitivity under control for at least a few days. Make sure your medicine cabinet contains acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and other medications that can ease discomfort. Keep away from hot or cold foods that can trigger sensitivity.

2. Root Canal Therapy

Recovery after a root canal usually takes less than a week. You may be able to return to your regular routine the very next day in many cases. That said, sometimes it’s better for the recovery process if you take a day or two to rest. In addition to taking pain medication, you should note any swollen areas and use an ice pack to reduce them. You’ll need to adjust your eating habits while recovering from a root canal; your diet should include only soft options like oatmeal or yogurt.

3. Tooth Extraction

Removing teeth is sometimes a necessary step of the full mouth reconstruction process. It takes around 3 to 5 days for the majority of patients to feel normal again after having an extraction performed. However, if a dry socket occurs, the healing process could take significantly longer than usual. You can avoid a dry socket by making sure that the blood socket that forms at the extraction site stays in place; do not touch it with your tongue, and do not expose it to suction by drinking through a straw.

4. Dental Implants

You might require a day or two off of work after having dental implants placed. Most patients are considered fully recovered after a couple of weeks, although it actually takes more time than that for the implant posts to finish fusing with the jawbone.  

Discomfort and swelling usually peak between 1 and 3 days, after which they’ll start to fade. You should avoid heavy exercise for a while to prevent unnecessary bleeding. Maintain good oral hygiene by using an oral rinse. You can brush your remaining natural teeth normally, but wait at least a week before directly brushing the implant site.

The information on this page, of course, is just a small sample of what your dentist might tell you in order to help you prepare for the recovery process after a full mouth reconstruction. Always let your dental team know if you have questions.

About the Author

Dr. Zack Hegazin belongs to the American Dental Association, the American Academy of General Dentistry, the North Texas Dental Society, and the Dallas County Dental Society. His McKinney dental practice, Marble Dental McKinney, provides full mouth reconstructions and offers in-house dental implant placement. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Hegazin, visit his website or call (214) 592-0441.