Will my face swell up after implant placement?

[Veronika]

Hello

I am due to have two upper front implants placed in October and would like to ask a few questions regarding the treatment so that I can better prepare myself for the procedure.

Firstly I would like to know if my face will swell up after the implant placement surgery? I work with people, so if my face is likely to swell up afterwards, I would like to know how many days the swelling will be there so that I can take time off work accordingly.

Secondly, will I be given any painkillers and antibiotics before or after the implant procedure is carried out? I have allergy to penicillin, so if I need antibiotics, I will need something else. Will the non penicillin antibiotics still be effective?

Thirdly, am I going to need to bring my husband to drive me home after the implant surgery? Am I going to be fit to drive home myself or will I need to bring him to drive me home?

[Dr Vahid Motahar]

Hi,

Thank you for your question.

IN the majority of the cases there is no or very little swelling or bruising after implant placement. There may be some swelling or bruising when there is some major surgery is done like when there is substantial bone augmentation. But in the case of 2 implant placement there is little possibility. May be some swelling is seen in people that bruise easily.

At Pearl Dental Clinic all of our implant patients after having their implants placed receive a "bag of goodies", as we call it, which has pain killers, post operative instructions, strong mouth wash and of course a course of antibiotics. Penicillin is the antibiotic of choice which is different if you are allergic to penicillin and is just as effective. We also recommend our patients to be ideally escorted by a relative or friend after implant placement.