Dental implant aftercare instructions | Authority Dental (2023)

FAQs

What is the aftercare after dental implants? ›

Avoid hot food and drinks for the first 24 hours and do not eat until the local anaesthetic has worn off. Try not to disturb the area with your tongue or fingers. Avoid alcohol and smoking for two weeks as these will slow down the healing process. Avoid brushing the surgical site for the first few days.

For the average patient, three or four days of rest will suffice after dental implant surgery. Tenderness and some swelling are normal and will subside within the first few days. Many dentists recommend having the implant surgery mid-week, allowing for a day or two off from work plus the weekend to recover.

Implants Fuse Together with Bone

However, many people don't realize that the reason why dental implants prevent bone loss is that they fuse together with the bone. When the implant gets placed, it stimulates bone growth. The bone then grows around the implant and fuses together.

Brush your teeth and gums but be very careful near the surgical site. Avoid using hydrogen peroxide or devices that spray water in your mouth. After the bleeding stops and you remove the gauze, you may start eating soft foods. Avoid anything with sharp edges and don't chew over the implant site.

Most patients begin to experience significant improvements in their gums within a week of surgery, and their gums will be completely healed within 2 weeks of their treatment. You'll usually schedule a follow-up with Dr.

Avoid heavy lifting, bending over, excessive physical exertion, exercise during the first few days following your surgery. For optimal results we ask that you refrain from these activities for 2 weeks. Do not smoke for at least 2 weeks. Doing so will compromise healing and may lead to failure of the surgery.

Many Dental Implant Patients Go Back to Work the Next Day

Everyone is different, but most of our dental implant patients can go back to work the day after their oral surgery.

In general, there are three steps involved in the dental implant procedures. First, the implant itself is placed into the jawbone. Next, the abutment is added to the implant, which is where the artificial tooth will be connected. Finally, the prosthetic tooth, or crown, is placed onto the abutment.

What is the best toothpaste to use on dental implants? ›

Non-abrasive, tartar control toothpaste is best suited to care for the surface of the implant. Avoid toothpaste with baking soda, too much fluoride, and those designed for smokers.

Corsodyl mouthwash can be bought over the counter at any chemist or pharmacy. If using gel then apply liberally with your finger over the implant area. In addition to Corsodyl, after each meal your mouth may be gently rinsed out with a warm, salt-water solution 3-4 times daily maximum.

Studies have shown that the Waterpik Water Flosser is the only oral irrigator to date that has been proven safe and effective for use with dental implants and effectively reduced plaque buildup and gingivitis in clinical trial patients.

Generally speaking, implants begin to drop and fluff after a few days, approach their final position after six weeks, and settle entirely after three months.

About 2 weeks after surgery, your implant should be completely healed. You should feel little-to-no tenderness near the implant, and no pain or discomfort, and it will be time to get your stitches out, or they will dissolve on their own if self-dissolving stitches are used.

The softening process is referred to as “fluffing”, and can last anywhere from eight weeks to six months. If your breasts feel hard longer than six months, see your plastic surgeon. Postoperative swelling contributes to the firmness of newly-placed breast implants, as does their placement.

You should expect temporary pain if you get dental implants. This pain is treatable with medication and will lessen over time. Lingering or worsening pain may be a sign of a complication. Call your doctor if you're still experiencing pain more than five days or discomfort more than ten days after your procedure.

If you had stitches placed in your gums they will dissolve and fall out on their own in approximately 1 to 2 weeks. You may experience a few drops of blood in your saliva or minor discomfort when this occurs. If they come out earlier it is not usually a concern unless persistent bleeding occurs.

You might notice a metal or white-colored material, which is the healing abutment that protrudes through the gum tissue. This post is attached to the implant, with a healing abutment to form the gum opening where the future tooth will be placed.

For about a month after dental implant surgery you will want to avoid using mouthwash. In the days immediately following surgery, you will also want to avoid spitting or swishing vigorously because this can irritate the surgical site.

Can I take a shower after dental implant? ›

If sutures are used at the implant and or extraction site they will dissolve. They will come out on their own in 3-10 days. Light to moderate exercise the day following surgery will help reduce swelling and help you feel well. Get up, move around, take a shower, and participate in normal activities as much as possible.

What to Expect After Surgery. To keep your dental implant securely in place for decades to come, a small titanium post will be placed into your jawbone. Since this requires oral surgery, it's completely natural to feel a little tired or sore afterwards.

While you definitely will not feel the procedure at all regardless of what type is used, some dental offices offer different forms of anesthesia, some of which can render you unconscious for the entire procedure. However, this is not normally necessary for the installation of dental implants.

There are two general categories of bone implant failure. The first is a category of failures due to the malpractice or incompetence of the installer. The second is all other failures, some can be from patient action or inaction, while some may just be environmental factors.

To reduce the chance of infection, many dental providers prescribe amoxicillin—an antibiotic in the penicillin family—prior to and following implant surgery.

In Phase 2, the artificial root is placed in the bone and allowed to heal. The procedure itself takes 1 to 2 hours and the healing time is 3 to 6 months. During this time the titanium alloy (the same material used in joint replacement) implant will heal around and merge with the surrounding bone tissue.

Healing from the Abutment Surgery

It usually takes about 2 weeks for the gum tissue to heal after the abutment is attached. Once the gums are sufficiently healed, the crown can be placed, which is the final step. The entire dental implant process can take anywhere from 5 to 8 months on average.

Abutment Placement

A local anesthetic is used while your gum tissue is opened to expose the post before placing the special fixture on it. It's normal for your gingival tissue to be a bit tender or inflamed for a few days afterward.

The most common reason why dental implants fail is because of an infection in the jawbone around dental implants, called peri-implantitis. Although implants cannot develop tooth decay, they are still susceptible to the implant form of gum disease.

How do I clean my dental implants? ›

Gum Disease and Bone Loss

The infection from gum disease eats away at the jaw bone that holds the dental implant in place. It's possible for the bone to deteriorate so much that the implant doesn't have anything to hold it, so that it falls out. The same can be said for your natural teeth.

The key is to not get one with stiff or hard bristles, as they could traumatize the gum tissues around the implant and restoration. Next, select a gentle, non-abrasive toothpaste. Be sure to avoid harsh products that feel gritty, such as baking soda.

Dental hygienists use a flavored polishing toothpaste made of pumice, flavoring, and usually a tiny amount of fluoride. This normally follows the scaling process, which is when hygienists use metal tools to scrape plaque and tartar from your teeth. The polishing toothpaste is much more coarse than regular toothpaste.

To better maintain dental implants, patients should clean their teeth twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush and floss once a day. Although you must brush thoroughly to remove plaque effectively, it is essential to be gentle enough not to damage your gums.

The first couple of days after the surgery, you'll want to stick to all-liquid meals if at all possible. This includes smooth soups (nothing too chunky), home-cooked broths and bouillon, meal replacement drinks, protein drinks, fruit smoothies, and various juices.

Pain medications are normally required after dental implant surgery. If you can take ibuprofen (Motrin^® or Advil^®), take 400–600 mg every 6–8 hours or as prescribed by your doctor. Ibuprofen will help with pain relief and as an anti-inflammatory.

A restoration is placed on top of the implant, creating the appearance of a natural tooth while keeping a tight seal with your gums. Because dental implants are sealed in place along the gumline, it is difficult for any food to get stuck underneath them.

Many dental professionals recommend using a manual toothbrush during the first few weeks after implant placement. This practice can help prevent irritation of sensitive tissues during the healing process. Once the area is healed, an electric toothbrush is an excellent choice for routine home cleaning.

Patients with dental implants should floss their teeth at least once daily. It is best to do so before brushing because removing plaque from between your teeth will allow the fluoride in your toothpaste to be as effective as possible.

When can I go back to work after oral surgery? ›

You will likely be able to return to work 3-5 days after your surgery, as long as you don't have a physically strenuous job. If your job requires physical labor, you may need to take a few more days off to recover. You should be able to return to normal activity a week after surgery.

Because you will still feel sleepy and may even experience slightly blurred vision after the procedure, it is strongly advised that you have someone take you home and avoid driving for at least 24 hours.

Speaking With Dental Implants

Dental implants perform exactly like natural teeth, so there will be no impediment to your speech. That being said, it may take a few days of adjustment to get used to them.

Mouthwashes should be started 24 hours after your surgery. Mix a level teaspoon of salt into a cup of boiled, hot (but not scalding) water. Hold the salt water in the mouth for one minute and gently swish the solution around and then spit out.

Some swelling is normal after oral surgery. For most people, it increases for 2 or 3 days and then starts to go down after that. If your swelling and pain increase after 3 days, call the clinic for an appointment. You will have the most discomfort when feel- ing starts to return to your mouth.

After implant surgery, your gums are healing from having an incision made through them. It is vitally important that you avoid drinking hot coffee, tea or hot chocolate after the procedure itself for up to two or three days.

Pain After Dental Implant Surgery

If you can take ibuprofen (Motrin^® or Advil^®), take 400–600 mg every 6–8 hours or as prescribed by your doctor. Ibuprofen will help with pain relief and as an anti-inflammatory. If you cannot take ibuprofen, then 1–2 tablets of regular Tylenol^® should be taken every 4 hours.

Swelling after dental implant surgery typically subsides within two to three days. Your doctor will provide detailed post-operative instructions, including ways to minimize this side effect. Tips include keeping your head elevated, reducing activity, and taking anti-inflammatory medications.

Some signs of allergic reactions include loss of taste, swelling around the gums, and a tingling sensation. Sudden allergic reactions are a sign of dental implant failure because they indicate that your body is rejecting the implant.