If you’re not ready for a mouthful of dentures, dental implants are the way to go. Dental implant surgery is a procedure where a metal screw is used to replace tooth roots and is then topped with an artificial tooth. Dental implants look, feel and function just as well as natural teeth. But, like any surgery, you’ll need to practice dental implant aftercare.
Caring for your implants is just as important as caring for your other teeth, as improper care can lead to infection and potentially the removal of your new implant.
Fortunately, implant aftercare is fairly simple.
Keep reading to learn all about how to care for your new implants.
After Surgery
As with any surgery, dental implants will be sensitive for the first 48 hours.
For the first hour after your surgery, it’s important to keep gauze packs around your teeth – your dentist will have placed them. Do not change your gauze until after the first hour, unless you were instructed otherwise by your dentist.
Some common symptoms you may experience in the first 48 hours could include:
- Bleeding
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Pain
For the best recovery, be sure to apply an ice pack to any areas of swelling, take over-the-counter painkillers (ibuprofen will help to reduce swelling as well), and get plenty of rest.
Try to brush your natural teeth with a soft toothbrush before you go to sleep. Avoid brushing or touching your new implants, as the gumline will be very sensitive. Instead, rinse with warm salt water to clean the surgical site.
If you notice the symptoms persist longer than 2 to 3 days, give your dentist a call.
Regular Maintenance
Performing regular maintenance on your dental implants is just as important as regular maintenance on your natural teeth. You want to brush, floss, and rinse with a good mouthwash.
You can use any standard toothbrush, however, you’ll need to make sure that it has soft bristles.
And as far as floss goes, most dentists recommend using unwaxed floss or floss specifically made for implants. You can also use a water pick to safely clean around your implants.
Professional Cleanings
It’s important to have your dental implants professionally cleaned routinely.
Since implants are not real teeth, they can collect plaque and bacteria within the threads of the implant and around your gums.
During your professional implant cleaning, your dentist will likely use a technique called scaling. This is a method where the tooth is cleaned below the gumline.
Dental Implant Aftercare Made Easy
As long as you follow a healthy dental implant aftercare regimen, your implants will last you a very long time.
Getting dental implants can boost your confidence, improve eating habits, and change your life all around.
If you think dental implants are right for you, book a free consultation today. We are open seven days a week and have dental implant clinics in Roscrea, Limerick & Castletroy, and are eager to help you change your life.
