Have you recently undergone dental implant surgery? While this treatment option is designed to bring back that beautiful smile, dental implants can only last for a lifetime with proper care and maintenance. How to maintain your dental implants depends on how long you have had them. Immediately after surgery, dental implants after surgery requires more attention and as the mouth continues to heal, you need to visit your dentist frequently so that he or she can monitor your dental health closely.
Dental Implants After Surgery Care
After a successful dental implant surgery, the patient is required to visit the periodontist 2 weeks after surgery. Your dentist will check the health of the implants, gum tissue and bone. If everything checks out and the dentist is satisfied with the results, he or she may suggest a visit another few weeks. If you experience any pain, infection or complication after the surgery, be sure to contact your dentist as soon as possible; you don’t have to wait for the appointed time.
Maintenance Visits
Once you have gone through the initial recovery period and your dentist has confirmed that your implants have successfully integrated with the bone, you still need to go for checkup after every 6 months. Dental implants also require the same professional dental exams and cleanings as natural teeth. If you visit any other hygienist other than your dentist, be sure to point out the location of your dental implants. In order for the implants to last for a long time, they need to be cleaned properly on a regular basis.
Home Care For Dental Implants
Visit your dentist regularly: After a dental implant surgery, be sure to follow all the instructions given by your dentist. Doing this helps you to heal faster and also prevents complications that may arise. If you suspect that there might be something wrong with your implants, it could be a sign of an infection. Don’t brush signs of infection away. Instead, make an appointment with your oral surgeon immediately.
Good oral hygiene: While it seems obvious, maintaining good oral hygiene is extremely important after getting implants. One of the reasons people end up with dental implants is because they were not keen enough in practicing good oral hygiene in the first place. Ensure that you brush your teeth and floss at least twice a day. Most patients keep up with their oral hygiene as they get accustomed to their new implants, however, with time they become lazy and less vigilant. Make brushing and flossing a priority and part of your daily routine.Avoid smoking: If you are smoker, you need to stop smoking after a dental implant surgery. Smoking causes dental implant failure because it restricts blood flow to the gums which then slows down the healing process. According to multiple researches, smokers have a dental implant failure rate up to 20%. Just because you smoke does not mean that you are not eligible for a dental implant. However, one is highly recommended to stop smoking a few days prior to a dental implant and to avoid smoking for at least 12 weeks after the implant placement.