After getting your dental implants in Jupiter, you might wonder how to make them last for a long time or how to care for them properly. While dental implants on their own can last for a long time without much care, keeping them clean will greatly improve their longevity. Here’s how you can properly take care of your implants.
Post-Operative Care of Dental Implants
How Do Dental Implants Work?
An artificial alternative to natural tooth roots is a dental implant resembling a screw. Dental implants have been used in the upper and lower jaws for many years. They are made of materials compatible with the human body, such as titanium. They offer a solid foundation for artificial replacement teeth like dental crowns, bridges, and dentures by connecting to the jawbone and gum tissue.
Dental implants can support partial or full dentures and replace one or more missing teeth. Crowns and implants stay inside the mouth and are held in place without needing adhesives. Dental implants, the option for restoration that looks the most natural, is best for restoring lost or severely damaged teeth. They make great replacements for dentures.
The Initial Hour
The first hour following the insertion of dental implants is typically relatively ordinary. You will bite down on a piece of gauze as you leave the office to apply pressure to the surgery site gently. This pressure will help the blood clot and cause the blood to thicken. You will unlikely need to replace the gauze for the rest of the day, even though you will be given more gauze to take home.
You can remove the gauze from your mouth when you get home and throw it away. This is also a good time to take your first round of medication or to eat and drink a small meal.
Bleeding
Even though it’s usual to have a crimson tinge to your saliva for up to 24 hours following surgery, dental implant treatments often only cause minimal bleeding. It is important to avoid spitting, drinking, or removing the gauze throughout each hour to allow for adequate clot growth.
Medicine for Local Anesthesia or Numbing
After surgery, the numbing medication often lasts 4-6 hours, giving you plenty of time to get home and settle down. To ensure the transition from being numb to no longer being numb is as smooth as possible, it is crucial to begin the drugs as directed.
Brushing Teeth
Following the implantation of dental implants, brushing is advised. The lesser the danger of infection, the cleaner we can keep your mouth and the surgical site. Brushing the surgery site should be done VERY GENTLY so that the antibiotic mouthwash may handle the bulk of the cleansing. The remaining teeth must be kept as spotless as possible.
Eating/Drinking
One hour following implant surgery, you can eat or drink for the first time. The first gauze can be taken off when you get settled at home. In general, softer meals are more easily tolerated, and avoiding the surgical site while eating can be beneficial. It is advised to rinse with salt water or mouthwash after every meal and other beverage except water.
The temporary, dome-shaped implant attachment known as the “Implant Healing Abutment” permits the gum tissue to grow around the implant as it heals.
Are You Looking for Dental Implants in Jupiter?
At Jupiter Dentistry, our team can help you take care of your dental implants to make them last for a long time. Give us a call to learn more!