AfterCare of Implants: Tips and Guidelines by Dentist in New Prague

Dental implants are the closest replica of natural teeth. This treatment provides aesthetic satisfaction while improving the function. Numerous people are opting for this treatment. Yet, dental implants may fail because of their negligence. Patients do not have much knowledge about the aftercare of dental implants and how to maintain dental implants.

A Dentist in New Prague MN has some insightful care tips for the maintenance of dental implants after dental surgery. Dental implants are easy to maintain, unlike the myths that state otherwise. They need to be treated the same as your natural teeth. 

Guidelines after the Dental Implant Surgery:

After the surgery, patients tend to experience slight discomfort and pain, which is manageable with medications. Sometimes swelling might present in that area which subsides in some days. Patients must follow all the instructions given by the dentist to ensure good healing.

Immediately after surgery, these are the instructions to keep in mind: 

• Keep the gauze piece at the site of the surgery with slight pressure to control bleeding if it is present. Keep it for an hour or 45 mins. If you notice bleeding even after hours of surgery, contact your dentist immediately.

• Avoid or minimize rinsing or spitting and also avoid hard foods that can disturb the surgery site.

• Avoid using straws for 24 hours.

• Do not consume extremely hot or spicy foods for the day and also refrain from chewing on the surgical side for 24 hours.

• Avoid sleeping on the same side of the surgical site and rest for a day or two.

• Smoking must be prohibited in all circumstances for up to 3 to 4 days to avoid the risk of infection. Also, smoking constricts the blood vessels, which interfere with the healing.

• After 24 hours, warm saline rinses are recommended.

• Lastly, take the pain medications as prescribed by your doctor to ease the discomfort.

Management of Postoperative Swelling:

Swelling is quite a common complication after the surgical procedure and management is also quite easy if you follow the guidelines properly.

Use Ice Packs or Cold Compress: 

Place an ice pack on the side of surgery to reduce the swelling. Take breaks between the use of ice packs.

Medications: 

Over-the-counter medications are available that have combined effects on swelling and pain.

Keep Head Elevated:

Avoid resting on the side of swelling while sleeping. Keep your head elevated to prevent swelling.

Soft Diet: 

Avoid consuming hard foods for some days to reduce the swelling and exertion of the surgical site.

Hygiene Practices for Implant Maintenance: 

• Brush twice daily with the less abrasive toothpaste. Avoid aggressive brushing after surgery until complete healing occurs. Even after the placement of the prosthetic part of the implant, the brushing can be done normally. 

• Flossing regularly around the area to avoid the risk of food accumulation. Use the shoe shine motion to clean the area. Never use toothpicks. It causes trauma.

• Use an antimicrobial mouthwash daily to remove bacterial accumulation. Avoid using hydrogen peroxide and alcohol-containing mouthwashes.

• Schedule the dental cleaning regularly with your dentist to get rid of plaque buildup.

• In denture wearer patients, it is recommended to remove the prostheses daily and soak them in the denture cleaner for some time.

• Dentures can also be cleaned with a brush and toothpaste before wearing them in the morning and also at night before sleeping.

• Clean the gums and rinse the mouth before wearing the dentures.

• Avoid hard, crunchy, sticky foods. It might exert the dental implants and the prosthesis.

• Cease tobacco consumption completely.

Avoid Implant Failure

There can be other reasons for implant failure, but most of the time it is poor hygiene practices. Failure to follow the instructions causes further unwanted complications. For the long-term success of the implant surgery, maintain good hygiene practices and avoid deteriorating habits. Stay in touch with your dentist and visit the dental office regularly. 

Eliminate bad habits such as tobacco chewing and smoking which impart negative effects on the oral cavity.   

If you’d like to learn more about dental implants, contact our experts at Dental On First. Schedule your dental consultation today and take a step closer to a healthy smile.