Dental implants are the best tooth replacement option available. Not only can they give you fully functional teeth, but they can last a lifetime as well. If you care for them properly.
Caring for Implants after Surgery
After your dental implant surgery, you may have three different situations. Your dental implant may be completely concealed below your gums. You may have a small abutment protruding above the gums. Or you may have a temporary tooth.
In all cases, you will likely have some swelling and tenderness of the gums at first. You won’t want to brush there right away. Instead, rinse the area carefully with water during the early healing period. We may also recommend antibacterial rinses or gels, depending on the health of your gums.
After a little while, you’ll be cleared to start brushing again with a very soft brush. It’s important to keep the area clean, as well as be gentle not to interfere with the healing of your gums. We will show you the proper technique during a follow-up visit.
You may have diet restrictions during the healing period.
Caring for Implants after Healing
Once your implants are fully healed and you have your final restoration on top of them, it’s important to keep taking care of them properly.
Brush your teeth twice a day just like you did with your natural teeth. It’s also vital that you floss properly, possibly with a water flosser. Gum disease is the biggest enemy of your dental implant, so you have to work hard to prevent it. We will talk to you about the structure of your dental implant and how best to floss around it.
Once your dental implant is healed, you will only need to come in for your regular check-ups, but these are just as important as ever. We will want to keep an eye out for gum disease and other potential problems.
Once your implants are fully healed, you won’t have any diet restrictions, but this means you should stick to eating foods with your teeth. Don’t break ice or crack nuts with your teeth. Also don’t try to use your teeth as pliers or a bottle opener. This can dislodge the implant or break the crown.
If you’re competing in contact sports, wear a properly fitted mouthguard to protect your dental implant.
To learn more about dental implants, please call Rice Dentistry at (949) 551-5902 for an appointment with a cosmetic dentist in Irvine.
