51 Year Old Female - Getting Implant Supported Dentures at Radiance Dentistry in Irving, TX - Irving, TX

Today marks one week since having my extractions, a bone graft and 10 implants placed. I feel really good all things considered!

I haven't had a lot of pain really, just achy discomfort - especially after physical exertion - and sometimes a bit of a bad attitude about food (lol). I am not taking pain pills but I am alternating with Tylenol and Alleve to keep the aches at bay. Yesterday I was out for few hours (for the first time) and did quite a bit of talking. It really wore me out! My face ached so much afterwards. I am thankful that I don’t have to talk all day long. I don’t have a lot of issues with annunciation, but I do speak more deliberately and slower.

Most of the visible swelling is gone. I did notice a light yellow bruise on my left jaw the other day but it is fading. My face is still numb from beneath my eyes through the bottom of my jaw. It’s weird.

I am still on soft foods. Lots of protein powder shakes, oatmeal, scrambled eggs and pudding. I had pan-fried cod the other night and that’s about it. I am going to try to venture into some more foods today but Dr. Iskandar said to expect it to be at least two weeks before I feel like biting into anything.

Today is the first day that what is in my mouth feels almost...normal? I realize that I have to adjust to my new normal and this is it. I guess it feels like a bulky retainer on the upper. I know that my gums are shrinking so who knows how that will feel in a month? I don’t notice much on the lower. The temps look okay. Way better than my natural teeth.

Will update again soon!

Today is day three after the upper arch and day two after the lower. I have been just lounging around, trying to keep on time with my antibiotics, rinses, pain meds.

The pain has been pretty minimal although it did start to throb and bleed when I did too much moving around. Especially when I let my head drop. I learned pretty quickly to squat rather than lean over! I have also set my alarm and not gone more than five hours without an Ibuprofen or Tylenol. The Ibuprofen is a MUST! I could feel my face shrinking after taking it. It is the only thing that provided relief from the pressure of the swelling. The codeine gives me a headache so I don’t use it.

The swelling has been weird, traveling all over my face. For a little while, I had a huge knot on the right side of my lower jaw. Later, I had a bump the size of a walnut near my nose. Yesterday, my nose was really swollen, today it is not. This morning the right side beneath my jaw was huge - like jowls! Now, not so much.

I iced every 20 minutes or so the first day after each surgery. The second day I iced some, then started applying warm, moist heat. I ended up keeping a rice cooker filled with water and a bunch of little washcloths next to my bed. It felt really, really good to apply those warm cloths to my face! Dr. Iskandar said that moist heat is important because it increases blood flow/circulation which aids in healing. He said no more ice is needed.

All I have really had to "eat" are protein shakes and pudding. I have chocolate whey and vanilla vegan protein powders and I've been switching off, adding almond milk, fruit and veggies to make it interesting and to add more nutrients and fiber. Smelling the families burgers and fries last night was kind of hard. Can’t lie about that!

Today I went in for my post op visit. It took about 15 minutes. Dr. Iskandar explained how to pop the denture off of the implants and then assisted me as I did both arches a few times. I was scared that the pressure would really hurt on the implants but it wasn’t that bad. The gum line of the denture scraped against my gums when I tried to put it in once and that did not feel good! I think it will just take practice. You have to kind of feel when the holes on the bottom of the denture line up with the abutments on the implants, then press down kind of hard until they snap. Pressing any kind of hard right now is scary because everything is so tender. I know that it will get easier each time. I am to remove them every other day and clean both the denture and my gums with the astringent.

Now I just wait. Wait for everything to heal. Wait to eat real food (lol). Wait for the final, beautiful smile. I come back in a month to have the stitches removed. In September or October, we will begin the final phase which is designing my final smile.

Thanks for all of the feedback from everyone here. I’m happy to answer any questions. I will post pictures in a few days after most of the swelling is gone.

I went in at 1:00pm yesterday for the uppers. The blood pressure, c02/pulse monitoring devices were attatched, I took my oral sedation medicine and relaxed until my blood pressure came down and I was sufficiently woozy. Dr. Iskander and his staff are very sweet and accomodating, always calm and no rushing things. I asked for, and received, great music to listen to which always calms me and makes me happy.

I think they started the procedure about 30 minutes after I took the sedation pill. I was aware of the shots he gave me in the mouth but didn't feel a bit of pain. I had taken the 800 mg ibuprofen an hour earlier as directed also so I'm sure that helped.

I was aware during the procedure, but couldn't feel anything. Dr. Iskander asked me to open my mouth wider or something a couple of times, which I can only assume I obliged.

I do remember a bit of pressure when the denture was attached to the implant, but that's about it.

Next thing I know, it is now...almost 12 hours after the start of the procedure. I'm feeling suprisingly good. I awoke to see some blood on my pillowcase, coming from the right side of my mouth. This is the side with more discomfort.

I'm also pretty hungry so I am drinking a protein shake. Probably all I will have today since I go in at 9am for my lowers.

All said, I am blown away by how much easier this was than I thought it would be. I'm attaching a photo of the upper temps. Will post later after lowers are done.