Dental implants offer many benefits. They are very attractive. They allow you to eat all your favourite foods. And they can last a lifetime, if they’re properly cared for. And the great thing about that is that they are actually quite easy to care for.
Caring for Implants after Surgery
Depending on the state of your bone, the location of the implant, and the success of the implant surgery, you may have three different situations after your dental implant surgery. For some people, it’s so crucial to protect the dental implant as it integrates with the bone that the implant may be completely concealed below the gums. In other cases, you may have a special kind of abutment called a healing cap. In some cases, you may even have a temporary crown.
No matter the situation, you will probably have some swelling and tenderness of the gums around the implant. It’s probably best not to brush there right away, but you still have to keep it clean. Usually the only thing necessary is to make sure you rinse the area with water after every meal. We may also recommend an antibacterial rinse or gel if you are at risk of gum disease.
As your gums heal, we’ll let you know when you can start brushing again. Start with a very soft brush, and try to keep the area clean while being gentle so you don’t interfere with healing.
We’ll give you more detailed instructions during your follow-up visits and tell you about any diet restrictions you may have during recovery.
Caring for Implants after Healing
Once your implants are fully healed and restored, you should care for them as you do your natural teeth: brush twice daily and floss every day.
Gum disease is the worst enemy of your dental implant, just like it was the worst enemy of your natural teeth, so it’s especially important that you brush and floss properly around your dental implant to keep it clean. If we have concerns about gum disease or other risks to your implant, we may request that you come in more often than the average individual so we can inspect your implant.
There are no diet restrictions associated with dental implants. You can eat whatever you want, but do try to limit yourself to eating food. What Is Parafunction and Why It Matters, including pliers, bottle openers, nutcrackers, and don’t use them to break ice cubes.
If you have more questions about dental implants, we will be happy to answer them. For help, please call (02) 9686 7375 to talk to an implant dentist in the Baulkham Hills area of Sydney.
