Are you planning to get dental implants? In order to have a beautiful smile and enjoy all the benefits of dental implants, it is important to take proper care of them.
Care for a dental implant begins the moment you leave the dentist’s office. So what should you do to properly care for implants?
It is important to remember that an implant is not a natural tooth but a medical device. Implants and their restorations are tooth-replacement systems that require continuous and careful maintenance and care to ensure long-term success. The soft tissues around the implant/crown/prosthesis must be properly maintained. The soft tissue acts as a “guardian” that prevents food and bacteria from penetrating and damaging the implant in the bone. Healthy soft tissue helps prevent chronic infections and implant complications.
1. Use a Soft Nylon Toothbrush
After dental implant placement, you may need to change your toothbrush. Nylon toothbrushes have flexible bristles that are more suitable for implants. Be sure to avoid toothbrushes with hard bristles, as they may injure the mucosa around the implant. The use of any metal instruments for cleaning the mouth after implant placement should also be avoided.
2. Avoid Sticky and Hard Foods
Eating hard or sticky foods can damage implants.
Some foods that should be avoided after implant placement include:
- caramel;
- dried fruits;
- hard candies;
- potato chips;
- carrots;
- apples;
- crunchy bread such as French bread.
If you still eat hard foods, it is better to cut them into small pieces. After eating sticky foods, it is necessary to brush your teeth.
3. Avoid Smoking and Alcohol
Quitting smoking and alcohol is beneficial for your overall health. However, it is especially important to avoid these substances when you have dental implants. Remember that dental implants require approximately six months to heal, so smoking during this period can be particularly harmful. In addition, alcohol consumption has been shown to slow down the healing process after dental implant placement, so it should be avoided as much as possible.
4. Schedule Regular Dental Visits
Dental implants can improve your smile, but this does not mean you should stop monitoring your oral health. You should plan visits to your dentist at least twice a year. With proper care and regular dental visits, your dental implants can last a lifetime.
How to Care for Dental Implants Immediately After the Procedure
After the implant is placed, you will be able to go home as soon as you feel ready. You will need to rest until the effect of the anesthetic wears off, which may take several hours. Most implants are placed under local anesthesia, but if you had general anesthesia or sedation, you will not be able to drive and someone will need to take you home.
After dental implant placement, you may experience some discomfort.
After dental implant surgery, some patients may experience redness of the gums and a small amount of blood in the saliva, which is normal during the first 24 hours. Minimizing physical activity immediately after surgery can help prevent bleeding and throbbing. You can stop heavy bleeding by placing a gauze pad directly over the bleeding wound and biting down on it for 30 minutes.
A small amount of swelling and sometimes bruising is normal. To minimize this, during the first day after the procedure you can apply ice to the cheek near the surgical area. During the first 36 hours after dental implant placement, you should use ice as much as possible.
Things You Should Do After the Procedure:
- During the first 8–12 hours after surgery, avoid excessive movement and keep your head elevated.
- Apply an ice pack to the face in 15-minute intervals if necessary.
- Eat only soft foods during the first 24 hours.
- Take medications as prescribed by your doctor.
- Avoid rinsing your mouth during the first 24 hours.
- For 10 days after surgery, avoid heavy physical work and smoking to prevent damage to the blood clot.
Follow these steps carefully in order.
Day 1 (Day of Surgery / First 24 Hours After Surgery)
- Do not rinse your mouth or brush your teeth.
- Do not eat until the numbness has completely worn off.
Avoid hot liquids during the first 24 hours. It is best to start with cool liquids, but avoid drinking through a straw. When the numbness begins to wear off, switch to soft foods but avoid chewing in the surgical area. A soft diet is recommended for four weeks. On the first day, a cool pureed diet (for example, smoothies) is best.
Days 2–3
Brush your teeth twice a day. Be careful around surgical sites. Start gentle rinsing with warm water without vigorous movements. Repeat rinsing after meals. If you have been prescribed a mouth rinse, use it according to the instructions.
Do not brush the gums and avoid touching or scratching the surgical site.
From Day 4 to Day 42 (6 Weeks)
Follow the same routine as on days 2–3, but you may rinse your mouth more actively. Continue rinsing and cleaning this way for six weeks.
From 4 to 8 Months
It is necessary to wait until the implant integrates with the jawbone before installing the prosthetic restoration (crown, bridge, etc.). You will need regular check-ups to ensure the implant is healing properly.
Dental Care.
Starting from the second day, brush your teeth 2–3 times a day. Be careful around surgical incisions. A temporary prosthesis should not be placed on the implant site for at least three weeks unless otherwise recommended.
Call your doctor if you notice any unusual symptoms. If fever or swelling lasts more than a few days, contact your dental surgeon immediately.
Very rarely, unexpected complications may occur, such as a reaction to the anesthetic, infection, or excessive bleeding. There is also a very small chance that the bone around the implant may not heal properly, which may cause the implant to loosen.
Contact your dentist if you experience:
- throbbing pain on the day of surgery;
- numbness at the implant site for more than 12 hours after surgery;
- pain or swelling around the implant lasting more than 10 days;
- bleeding that does not stop after 30 minutes even after biting on wet gauze;
- the implant feels loose.
Implant systems require regular dental care and professional maintenance by a dentist. This includes cleaning of the area, radiographic evaluation, and sometimes tightening or replacing parts of the implant system.
A restoration on an implant is a “screw-in-screw” system that requires annual maintenance. It is extremely important to see a doctor as soon as possible if the crown or prosthesis becomes loose.
The dentist should also evaluate your bite, because implant overload (too much biting force on the implant) may lead to implant failure.
Caring for dental implants is quite simple. If you have any questions regarding dental implant care, inform your doctor. If you need to schedule a dental implant procedure, contact YAREMA DENTAL today.
This article does not replace a medical consultation. For complete and personalized information, please consult your dentist.