The most common reason people get bone grafts is in preparation for dental implants. There are a few different kinds of bone grafts, and anesthesia is used for all of them, which means that the bone graft procedure won’t be painful. After anesthesia wears off, pain during recovery depends on the type of bone graft, but is usually described as mild to moderate, wearing off after a few days. Thinking about getting a bone graft might make you nervous, but it’s not a complicated procedure, and understanding the procedure can help keep that nervousness at bay.
People need bone grafts when there’s bone loss in the jaw, which happens because of trauma, missing teeth, or gum disease. Dental bone grafts can be used to support the sinuses when they migrate into gaps left behind by missing upper molars, bridging these gaps, and they can be placed shortly following extraction to prevent bone atrophy. Some grafts come from the patient’s own body, while others come from external sources – human or animal donors, or synthetic materials. Local anesthesia is used, at a bare minimum; some patients ask for sedation in addition, especially for more complex grafts. Patients report feeling the pressure of the bone graft procedure but not feeling pain.
As anesthesia wears off, some soreness in the jaw is expected, and the jaw may also be bruised or swollen. This shouldn’t last more than a few days. However, while rare, infection or other complications can arise after any surgical procedure. You should contact your emergency dentist right away if:
- You have a fever
- Moderate pain persists or worsens after a few days
- You experience any severe or sudden pain
- You observe a foul odor or smell near the graft site
- There is noticeable pus at the graft site
Any of the above could be a sign of infection and should be addressed immediately.
Dentists recommend over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen to manage pain after dental bone grafts. For larger or more complex grafts, doctors may prescribe short courses of pain medication. Cold compresses, applied in periods of no longer than 20 minutes, can help reduce uncomfortable swelling, especially within the first day or two. While some minor soreness could remain, most people recover fully in three to five days, given they follow their dentist’s aftercare guidelines. Your dentist will review your specific instructions with you before your procedure. In general, dentists recommend some consistent things during recovery from dental bone grafts. These include:
- Avoiding hot liquids
- Refraining from smoking
- Avoiding alcohol
- Eating soft, mild foods
- Keeping the graft wound site clean
- Making sure to not disrupt the graft wound site, i.e., not using a straw, forcefully spitting, or swishing liquid in your mouth
If you’ve had your wisdom teeth extracted, you might recognize that these are the same aftercare recommendations. The procedures can actually be quite similar, with some variation, and thanks to anesthesia, they’re painless. Following an effective aftercare routine and with the help of over-the-counter medications, the majority of people recover without any issues. When issues do arise, prompt attention can help resolve them and help set you up for successful dental implants and a future of smiles.