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Dental implants are the most effective way to replace missing teeth because they solve many problems that previous methods failed to address. Dental implants are essentially artificial tooth roots made of titanium that are placed directly into the jawbone to create an extremely durable structure to hold the replacement teeth. Dental implant surgery takes time to heal and patients who receive dental implants must follow precise instructions to make sure that the implant site heals correctly.
Patients who have recently undergone dental implant surgery should avoid hot and cold foods. They should also avoid foods that can get stuck in the implant site such as fruits with tiny seeds, nuts, and popcorn. Such patients should never use straws because they could possibly dislodge the blood clot, causing the healing process to start all over again.
The medications prescribed by our dental implants dentist should be taken exactly as instructed. These medicines play a vital role in the healing process by preventing infection and reducing pain. Antibiotics should always be taken on schedule and patients are usually required to keep taking them until the prescription runs out. Pain medication must never be taken more often than is needed for pain and driving or operating machinery should be avoided during use.
Finally, proper dental hygiene must be practiced in order for the implant to heal affectively. For the first 12 hours after surgery, brushing and rinsing should be avoided completely. After that, patients should rinse their mouths with warm salt water to cleanse the area and normal brushing can continue.
By following all of these important steps and any additional instructions given by our dentist, the risk of dental implant surgery complication is greatly reduced and the time it takes to heal will be as well.