Dental Implants Aftercare: What to Expect

Serving Portland & Vancouver Metro Area

Dental Implants Follow Up and Maintenance

Dental implant care begins as soon as you are sent home from the dentist. It will include your initial recovery period, your first few weeks with your implant, and the rest of your life because this is a permanent treatment. Knowing what to expect will ensure that you are prepared with the right tools and mindset to have a healthy healing once you are home.

Because dental implants require surgical placement, you will want to keep the area clean and avoid injury to them especially in the first few weeks after your treatment. We will provide a list of activities and foods that you should avoid. For example, you will need to avoid certain foods, hot beverages, and strenuous workouts to eliminate excessive bleeding and swelling during recovery.

The First Weeks of Caring for Dental Implants

Your first few days and weeks are the most important in ensuring that your implants heal well.  Typically the denture / dental prosthesis covers the tooth extraction areas, which helps these areas clean and free of debris.  This also helps prevent dry-socket and infection.

Be sure that you have the following items on hand to help you keep the area clean in the few weeks post surgery.

• A soft-bristled toothbrush
• Unwaxed dental tape
• A floss threader
• An oral irrigator
• Rubber-tipped gum stimulators

Long-Term Maintenance for Dental Implants

Once your implant has healed, you can generally treat it just as you would treat your other teeth. Therefore, you should be sure to brush and clean around it daily. It is advised to schedule yearly examinations and cleanings with your dentist. These cleanings will include a scaling to clean beneath the gum line as well as a thorough cleaning around the exposed portion of your dental implant to ward off infection.
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