Dental Implant Aftercare: Wallasey Village Dentist’s Top Tips
Congratulations on your new dental implants! Dental implants will vastly improve your oral abilities and your everyday life. Care must be taken after all oral procedures to ensure the best possible outcome and to guarantee long-lasting results. Our Wallasey Village dental practice is well-versed in dental treatment aftercare, and we are more than happy to share our top tips and experiences with you.
Why Do People Need Dental Implants?
Losing a tooth can be detrimental to your mental and oral health. The space on your gums can stand out like a sore thumb, especially if it’s towards the front of your mouth. It can make you self-conscious and cause you to behave differently. You may stop socialising or smiling as often, and in general, become easily stressed. Dental implants are essentially artificial roots installed within your gums to provide an anchor for artificial teeth, such as crowns and bridges. These implants prevent the deterioration of the gums and jawbones and help retain your facial structure. Without them, over time, you would notice structural changes to your face and jaw that would by then have become irreversible.
The procedure is fairly straightforward and can only have positive impacts on your oral health. After any medical or dental treatment, it is important that you take the correct steps to encourage healing and longevity. Being cautious and heeding your dentist's advice will do wonders for your implants.
Wallasey Village Dental Practice’s Top Tips!
Here at our practice, we want the best for our clients and all people who take the necessary steps to improve their oral health. We would like to share some great advice that can help you on your post-treatment journey
Initial Aftercare and Healing
No driving: Most implant procedures are performed under anaesthesia, and so it is advised that somebody else pick you up after, as you may still feel the effects, and that could hinder your driving abilities.
Avoid hot drinks and hot food: It is a good idea to avoid hot drinks after treatment, as the implant site will be very sensitive and will be trying to heal; hot temperatures can prevent this process.
No Poking and Prodding: It is human nature to pick at or touch things we are not supposed to. It will be the same here. Try avoiding using your tongue or finger to feel the surgical area. Constant prodding can undo the healing clots that should be forming.
Soft foods: Initially, you should start with soft foods or maybe even liquids for a while. This is to avoid putting any pressure on the newly installed implant. Similarly, you should not brush your teeth with too much force as this could damage the area.
Avoid straws: the sucking motion can cause the blood clot (that forms for healing) to dislodge.
Salt water rinses: Using saltwater to gargle and rinse your mouth will encourage healing. The saltwater (especially warm) will help reduce bacteria.
Avoid Alcohol and Smoking: Especially in the beginning, alcohol and alcohol based substances should be avoided, as should smoking. Both can considerably slow down healing.
Long-term Aftercare:
Have a Good Oral Health Regimen: Having and maintaining a good oral health regimen should be part of everybody's daily life. However, it is even more critical to do so after undergoing dental procedures. Ensuring that your teeth and gums are at their healthiest will facilitate the longevity of any artificial additions to your mouth. It will enable a solid ground for healing and prevent disease and decay. Regular brushing and flossing can do wonders for post-treatment oral health.
Choice of Toothbrush: Even after your implant is healed, it is best to avoid hard-bristled toothbrushes and opt for soft or medium ones. Hard bristles can be too harsh on teeth and gums, and even more so on the implant site or a crown once it has been fitted. You should also follow the global advice of regularly updating your toothbrush every three months.
Regular Dental Check-ups: A crucial aftercare tip is dental check-ups. Visiting your dentist and dental hygienist regularly can help eliminate issues before they painfully present themselves. They also allow the dentist to ensure all is well post-treatment.
Food Choices: While you are free to eat as you please after the initial healing, and even more so after a crown has been fitted, it is still a good idea to incorporate smart choices. Avoiding hard foods or very sticky and chewy foods is a precaution that should be taken wherever possible. This is to avoid the possibility of damaging your teeth, both real and artificial.
Following these guidelines will encourage fast and effective healing and will make sure that you get the most out of your dental implants! Contact us now for more information or if you require dental help!
Dental Emergencies
Dental implant treatment is usually followed up with an artificial tooth or crown placement after the three to six months healing period. It is important that you be able to recognise a dental emergency should you encounter one.
While a little post op bleeding is to be expected, you should watch for extensive bleeding. Healing is largely reliant on blood clotting, and heavy bleeding suggests that this is not happening..
While a little pain is normal (and you can take over-the-counter painkillers for this), you should not be in unbearable amounts of pain, especially when you have taken painkillers.
While it is not advised that you spit in the first 24 hours or so, sometimes it is unavoidable. If you notice your spit looks unusual (Lumpy, green or yellow), this may be a sign of infection.
Once your artificial tooth has been installed, you can continue your life as usual, but take precautions to protect it. If you are involved in an accident or injury and your crown becomes damaged (or you think it might have), it is best to get it checked.
Keeping a lookout for these and any other irregularities can prevent things from getting worse. Immediately visit an emergency dentist and get your peace of mind. It is always better to be safe than sorry, and your dentist will be more than happy to have a look and reassure you or provide treatment if necessary.