Quick Summary
Do you want to know why dental implants are so important? Or want to know how you can take care of implants in the best way possible so that they last long? Post-dental implant care is as important as getting a dental implant itself. You need to ensure you recover fast so you can experience better and natural. Don’t worry, we have prepared a detailed blog about it which will answer all your questions. Let’s explore.
Every year thousands of Americans get dental implants to replace their missing teeth but many of them also go through dental implant failure because of not following proper post dental implant care. Here in this blog, we will discuss the importance of proper post-implant care and how you can do it too.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are something that helps people get their precious smiles back. They are artificial teeth that replace the missing or damaged teeth. They are made up of safe and biocompatible materials. A dental implant can be categorized into three parts – threaded post, abutment, and artificial teeth.
The threaded post is inserted in the jawbone which makes it the artificial root for the new tooth. Once the threaded post is placed then the dentists wait for 3 to 6 months to let it heal. This healing period is known as osseointegration. After the bone and gums are healed the abutment is placed. The abutment is a connector that joins artificial teeth and roots. The artificial teeth are placed 2 to 4 weeks after the placement of abutment.
You’re getting new teeth which means you need to take care of them properly, because if you don’t then severe complications will arise and the implants will fail. You can get peri-implantitis and gum infection due to poor oral hygiene. Apart from that you also can lose bone or get other teeth affected if your oral hygiene is poor.
Common Myths and Actual Risks Related to Dental Implants
There are many common myths surrounding dental implants. These myths stop individuals who need dental implants from getting them. It is necessary to debunk such myths with facts so that everyone who needs it can get the benefit of dental implants. Let’s take a look at some myths and facts.
Myth – Dental implants are painful.
Fact – Dentists use local anesthesia to numb your gums and prepare them for operation which means you won’t feel any pain during the treatment.
Myth – Dental implants are overpriced.
Fact – Dental implants are expensive but not overpriced. They are worth their cost. They are one-time investments with very little maintenance.
Myth – Dental implants are not safe.
Fact – Dental implants are completely safe to get when you are getting them done by experienced dentists and following all of their instructions carefully.
Myth – Dental implants look fake.
Fact – Dental implants don’t look fake. They replace the missing tooth and have the same color, size, and shape as that of the missing tooth which blends it in with the rest of the teeth to make it look natural.
We know about common myths and now it’s time to learn about the actual risks you can face if you have certain conditions or poor oral health. Sometimes there’s a risk of dental implant failure due to unforeseen circumstances.
- Infection: When you don’t maintain proper oral hygiene then you have a high risk of getting the infection. You can avoid it by following dentists’ instructions and maintaining good oral health.
- Sinus damage: As your upper jaw directly lies under the nasal sinuses there’s a high risk that they get damaged when dental implants replace your upper teeth. Your dentist will guide you in managing this situation.
- Nerve damage: If dentists don’t take X-rays during planning the treatment then there is a high risk that your nerves might get damaged.
Importance of Proper Post-Dental Implant Care
According to a report from NIH, smokers have a 5.6% implant failure rate and we know that smoking is one of the major reasons for poor oral hygiene. To avoid implant failure proper post dental implant care is necessary. It plays a crucial role in keeping your new teeth healthy for a long time. However, if you don’t do proper care after the implantation then the life time of the dental implants will reduce. Apart from this, you’ll also have severe pain and discomfort. Let’s understand the importance of proper post-dental implant care.
Promotes Proper Healing
Once the implants are placed they need proper care along with gums, roots, and other teeth. Proper post-dental implant care helps in promoting proper healing. Appropriate healing prevents future complications from happening.
Ensures Implant Stability
We know that anything needs to be stable to last for a longer period of time. The same goes for dental implants. They need to be left undisturbed for weeks or months after being placed so that they last long. For that, you have to avoid putting excessive pressure on it.
Prevents Infection
Newly placed dental implants are always prone to get infected due to unhealed gums and teeth. Proper post-dental implant care like maintaining good oral hygiene protects implants, gums, roots, and other teeth from getting affected.
Reduces Risk of Peri-Implantitis
Peri-implantitis is a condition where there is severe inflammation due to bacteria and plaque because of poor oral hygiene. Brushing your teeth daily and maintaining good oral hygiene after implantation reduces the risk of peri-implantitis.
Protects Surrounding Teeth and Gums
Dental implants make the mouth sensitive to infection. To avoid the growth of any kind of condition we need to protect surrounding teeth and gums too. Maintaining post-dental implant hygiene can help you protect them.
Improves Long-Term Success Rates
The whole point of proper post-dental implant care is to improve the long-term success rates of such implants. Do you know that the threaded post lasts for a lifetime and the artificial teeth last for more than 20 years? The only thing you need to do is to take care of them properly.
Saves Cost
You already know that dental implants are very costly. And we are sure that you don’t want to pay any more for the complications arising due to poor maintenance. You can simply follow some preventive care which will save a lot of money.
Maintains Aesthetic Appearance
Imagine getting dental implants for getting your smile back and still not being able to smile due to poor maintenance of the implants which leads to poor overall hygiene of the mouth. Proper post-dental implant care helps you maintain an aesthetic appearance.
Top Tips for Proper Post-Dental Implant Care
You know about the importance of post-procedure care of dental implants and how it can help you. When you choose to appropriately care about your dental implants you just increase their life span and reduce your medical cost. Post-dental implant care is categorized into two parts by dentists to address immediate and long-term conditions. These two parts are immediate and long-term implant care.
For ‘Immediate’ Post Dental Implant Care
The first 48 to 72 hours after getting dental implants are really crucial. Because during these you still have the effect of anesthesia and your implants are still very sensitive and can be damaged if you don’t take care of them properly.
Follow Your Dentist’s Instructions
It is very important to follow the dentist’s instructions precisely without ignoring anything they are saying because if you don’t follow their instructions then you can damage your implants severely. Your dentist will guide you with medication schedules, activity restrictions, follow-up visits, and cleaning methods.
Use Cold Compresses to Reduce Swelling
You are getting a surgical treatment where gums are cut and jawbones are drilled. This leads to heavy swelling which significantly reduces the basic movements of the mouth. Dentists recommend using cold compresses to reduce swelling. It also reduces inflammation, discomfort, and bruising.
Avoid Touching the Surgical Site
We know that unknowingly we keep touching the surgical site with our tongue, but in order to let the surgical site heal properly we need to avoid touching it. You should not even move your lips with your hand to look at the implants in the mirror. Any type of disruption in the implants can cause bleeding, irritation, and even delay the healing process.
Stick to a Soft, Lukewarm Diet
We know that the first 48 to 72 hours after implantation are very crucial as the gums, artificial teeth, and roots can get damaged. In this period, you have to avoid taking hard, chewy, extremely hot, or cold food as they can damage the implants and cause irritation. To avoid that you must stick to a soft and lukewarm diet.
Take Prescribed Medications as Directed
Some medications just after the dental implantation are extremely necessary. These include painkillers and antibiotics that help you get relief from discomfort due to implants and dry up the wound helping it heal faster. All you have to do is to take prescribed medicines as directed even if you are feeling relief. It can also help you avoid any future complications.
Don’t Brush the Dental Implants Immediately
We know that brushing is necessary and is part of proper post-dental implant care to maintain oral hygiene but that is in the long term and not immediately. If you immediately brush your dental implants after them being placed then you might disrupt them which will cause bleeding and irritation. Instead, you can rinse your mouth with warm water.
Attend All Follow-Up Appointments
Many individuals make the mistake of avoiding some follow-up appointments when they feel relief which leads to the escalation of conditions that could have been avoided. You must always attend all of your follow-up appointments because they are important. In these check-ups dentists monitor your healing progress, detect any signs of complications, clean your mouth, etc.
For ‘Long-Term’ Post Dental Implant Care
Long-term post-dental implant care revolves around maintaining overall oral hygiene, avoiding any type of complications, and reducing costs. It makes sure that the threaded post lasts for a lifetime and the artificial teeth last for 20+ years.
Maintain Good Overall Oral Hygiene
Maintaining good overall oral health is necessary in the long run. One of the best ways to do this is by brushing your teeth. After getting the dental implants you have to use a brush with soft bristles because a hard bristled brush can damage the artificial teeth which will lead to accumulation of plaque and bacteria on it.
Flossing
Flossing is one of those oral hygiene activities that you can do every day, especially after getting dental implants. You can use interdental floss, water flossers, or implant-safe floss to keep your mouth free from food particles and bacteria. It reduces the risk of developing peri-implantitis.
Use Antibacterial Mouth Rinse
Sometimes even after brushing and flossing bacteria remains in the mouth. You can use mouth rinse to remove that. Avoid using alcohol-based mouthwashes as they can cause irritation in the area around dental implants. Antibacterial mouthwashes must be your top choice as they don’t contain any alcohol or other harmful chemicals which makes them dental implant-friendly.
Avoid Smoking and Tobacco Use
Smoking and Tobacco use are one of the most common reasons for poor overall oral health. If you are a smoker then it can be one of the potential reasons for the decline of your natural teeth. If you want to keep your dental implants and gums healthy you have to avoid it. Smoking also delays the healing process and makes the implants more prone to infection.
Change Diet to Support Bone and Gum Health
Now, you don’t have your natural teeth which gave you freedom to eat whatever you wanted. No matter how strong these dental implants are they can never be as strong as natural teeth. To avoid any problems you have to change your diet and increase the consumption of vitamins, calcium, proteins, and other micronutrients. Reduce your sugar and acidic food intake too.
Regular Check-Ups
Regular check-ups are necessary for both immediate and long-term care. However, unlike immediate care, the check-up frequency in the long term is less. You have to visit your dentist every six months to monitor implant progress and bone and gum health. This can also help detect potential issues in the early stages.
Conclusion
By the end of the blog we can say that proper post dental implant care is really crucial for healthy implants. You also know how immediate and long-term care like regular checkups, following instructions, using cold compresses, diet changes, maintaining good overall hygiene, etc can help your dental implants last for a lifetime. For all your dental implant needs you can visit The Town Dentist. We have experienced Periodontists, implantologists, and general dentists who can address your needs and goals and help you achieve them.
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