What Your Dentist Wants You to Know About Dental Implant Aftercare

If you are considering dental implants to replace missing teeth, you might want to talk with an implant dentist first about what getting implants entails, including aftercare for your implants. The dentist will be able to share with you how the procedure will work, what recovery looks like, and what you should be doing to care for your implants while you are healing. Implants are an excellent choice to permanently replace missing teeth, but it is important to know how to care for them properly before you make the decision to get them placed.

We have put together some information that your dentist will want you to know about aftercare for your dental implants. This will help make sure that you heal properly and that your implants stay functioning the way they should for decades to come without needing any repairs or maintenance.

Implants need to be cleaned like teeth

Your implant dentist should tell you before your procedure that you will still need to clean your implants, similar to how you would like your natural teeth. This means brushing and flossing, but occasionally you will want to take it a step further, particularly right after installation. You should make sure to keep the base of the implant and the abutment clean while it is healing to avoid infection.

This can be done by using a toothbrush or Q-tip and a cleaning solution designed for implants. This keeps the area free of debris and plaque while you heal and the implant starts to grow into place.

You should avoid hard foods for a few days after surgery

Like any surgery, you are going to experience some soreness and swelling for a few days after the implant surgery. During this time, you are vulnerable to injuring yourself if you try to eat foods that are too hard, so the dentist recommends eating soft foods and avoiding chewing right where your implant is, if possible. This will prevent excess pressure on the implant and limit the amount of food debris around the surgery site.

Keeping the area clean is also good for the healing process and should also be a priority. It generally takes 3-4 days to heal enough to eat normally, but this can vary by person.

Manage pain and swelling with over-the-counter medication

Much like avoiding certain foods for a few days, you can expect pain and swelling around the site of the implant for a few days after the surgery. The pain is typically mild to moderate and is safe to be managed by over-the-counter medications, but if you notice bleeding or any other new symptoms or symptoms that prolong past a few days, your dentist right away to see what can be done.