If you made the wise decision to replacing your missing or damaged teeth with dental implants and have just completed implant treatment, you may be wondering how to care for your new restorations.
Your dentist usually advises you about how to take care of your newly placed dental implant, though it never hurts to refresh your memory. It’s extremely important to take proper care of you dental implants after getting them surgically placed. The success of your dental implant ultimately relies on how well you care for it. The following instructions involve ways you can properly care for your new dental implant:
Don’t bother your dental implant. Immediately after getting your implant surgically placed you need to abstain from bothering it, so don’t think about poking around at it with your tongue. Agitating the implant will only will only prolong the healing process and may even lead to additional problems.
Ice the affected area. To some it may be alarming when they realize that certain areas of their face swell, but I assure you swelling is a completely normal occurrence. To help minimize the swelling you can apply an icepack or a frozen bags on your cheek where the swelling has occurred. Apply this method as much as possible for the first 36 hours.
Don’t worry if you see blood. Some bleeding or redness in your saliva within the first 24 hours after having your dental implant placed is normal. You can control excessive bleeding by biting down on a gauze pad placed where the implant is for 30 minutes. If that doesn’t stop the excessive bleeding, call your dentist for further help.
Modify your diet. Be sure to drink plenty of liquids and stick to eating soft foods for the first few days after getting your implant placed. You can gradually work your way back to eating harder food as your implant heals. Though you should be sure to avoid chewing near your implant while eating and avoid swishing liquids around you mouth the first week after the dental implant procedure.
Practicing proper oral hygiene is essential. Good oral hygiene is key to healing, making it crucial for you to keep your mouth as clean as possible. Your dentist typically prescribes you a mouthwash to use for the first week or so after the procedure. You should also be brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush, and when doing so, be sure to gently brush around your implant.
Decrease your level of activity. You should keep your level of activity to a minimum immediately following the implant procedure. If you are exercising and your implant begins to throb and bleed, discontinue immediately. Keep in mind that you aren’t consuming a normal amount of nutrients, so that it may weaken and further limit your exercise.
It’s typically takes three to six for the dental implant itself to fully fuse with the jawbone and achieve full strength. While it takes another two months for the crown to be custom-made and fitted. Though this time frame can vary with each individual patient. Your dentist can usually give you an accurate ideas of when the entire treatment will be compete.
If you’re interested in replacing your missing teeth with dental implants, contact Dr. Patrick Simone, DDS in Henderson, NV at 702-735-2755 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.patricksimonedds.com for additional information.
Dr. Patrick Simone proudly accepts patients from Henderson, Las Vegas, Silverado Rach, Enterprise, Whitney, Spring Valley and all surrounding areas.