Dental implants have many advantages over other conventional tooth replacement solutions.
Patients who consider dental implants do so because they understand that implants are designed to look, feel and function exactly like their natural teeth.
However, taking proper care of dental implants is crucial to implant success and providing maximum results for as long as possible
If you have chosen dental implants or dental bridges to replace missing teeth, there are a few important things to keep in mind after this procedure as the success of this process is, to a large extent, determined by what steps you take or don’t take after surgery.
Essential Do’s Following Dental Implant Surgery
Rest
Dental implant therapy is oral surgery and just like any other surgical procedure, you need to rest a lot so that your body heals.
Although implant surgery is considered an outpatient procedure, you still need to lie down and rest, and not engage in strenuous activities, especially anything that will put a strain on your new implants.
After the surgery, make sure you have the rest of the day off and rest your head with elevated pillows to maintain blood flow. This will reduce the painful swelling and excessive bleeding.
Eat Well
Proper nutrition and diet are very important for the success of your dental implant. Therefore, it is important that you watch what you eat, even if you can’t chew properly immediately after the dental implant.
Before going for the procedure, prepare foods that are easy to eat ahead of time, so that you will have what you want to eat when you are at home after the procedure.
Some of the food types you should consider include mashed vegetables, yoghurt and cheese. These are great for providing the vitamins and proteins you need.
Stop Smoking
If you smoke cigarettes or chew tobacco, this recovery time after your dental implant surgery is the best time to quit.
Apart from the obvious health effects of smoking, cigarette smoke and tobacco can increase the risk of infection with a new dental implant. If the infection is severe enough, the implant may have to be removed.
Smoking and tobacco are not only harmful to your health but can also increase the risk of gum disease and oral cancer.
In the case of progressive gum disease (known as periodontitis), you can actually lose bone mass in the jaw, which can lead to loss of the dental implant.
Take Some Time to Recover from Surgery
Every surgical operation requires sufficient healing time to maximise results. The same is true for dental implants.
Understand that your body needs time to heal so take time off work and avoid any tiresome or stressful activities.
Although the healing time varies for each patient, after a safe dental implant treatment, we recommend spending a quiet week and maintaining good oral hygiene.
Follow all of the Doctor’s Instructions
After dental surgery, make sure you follow all of the doctor’s post-operative instructions up to the last letter.
Doctors and dentists have many years of experience in the treatment of patients with oral surgery, and they understand every aspect of the recovery process and will know the best advice and recommendations to give.
Failing to adhere to their recommendations may put not just your new implants at risk, but also your oral health.
Practise Oral Health Hygiene
The success of dental implants depends largely on how well you maintain good oral health habits.
After surgery, keep your mouth clean by rinsing them with warm salt water about four times a day as an alternative to brushing and flossing.
This is especially important after eating because dirt and food particles get stuck between healthy teeth and can later cause cavities and tooth decay.
Before you eventually go back to brushing and flossing, make sure your dentist gives you the all-clear, so that you don’t start prematurely and put your dental health at risk.
Essential Don’ts Following Dental Implant Surgery
Don’t Be Impatient
Just like every other surgical procedure, dental implant procedure requires adequate time for recovery in order to get optimum results.
Therefore, don’t be in a hurry to go back to your daily routine and especially stay away from your regular dishes for some time!
We recommend that you devote a simple rest week after surgery to ensure that you are treating yourself properly.
Don’t Neglect Oral Hygiene
It is obvious that oral hygiene after implant surgery is more important than ever before, but many patients unknowingly fall into poor hygiene habits, which can increase the risk of infection.
While you may not start brushing and flossing immediately, be aware of your oral hygiene and avoid habits that can jeopardise the success of your new implants.
Avoid Extreme Temperatures in the Mouth
If you have recently had dental implant surgery, you may have to temporarily put your love for hot, spicy or cold meals and beverages on hold.
Warm food and drink can cause burns to the mouth, especially if you are less sensitive due to anaesthetic and painkillers. Although you may not feel it at the time, burns can have a lasting effect on the sensitivity of the tongue and teeth.
Always Keep your Dentist Appointments
To ensure the best results from your dental surgery, always be sure to keep your dentist’s appointments. However, if you begin experiencing problems after the surgery, don’t wait until the next appointment before getting in touch with your dentist.
The sooner you reach out to your dentist, the faster you can solve the problem.
Final Recommendations
There are many things to consider when looking after new dental implants.
The recovery period after implant surgery can be stressful, inconvenient and uncomfortable for many patients.
Following implant surgery, it is a good idea to take things easy for some time. For the majority of cases, the healing process depends on whether the patient meets his dental therapist’s post-op instructions.
Anyone considering an implant procedure should understand that after the anaesthesia wears off, it is normal to feel little pain, but this doesn’t last long and will fade after a short time. However, if the pain and discomfort persist, get in touch with a dental professional.