Dental implants are a permanent solution to filling gaps in your mouth. The abutment screws that are surgically implanted in your jaw are designed to stay put indefinitely unless you experience major trauma or infection or rejection to those areas. West Gate Dental in Lincoln, NE helps all of their new dental implant patients care for their implants so that every patient can have a long-lasting beautiful smile.
Tips for Your Lincoln Dental Implants
There are some very important care steps once West Gate Dental in Lincoln, NE completes your implant surgery. To ensure that you do not experience anything particularly painful or unpleasant, follow these tips closely.
- Use a very soft bristle toothbrush near the implant sites for the first few weeks. You don't want to irritate the gum tissue.
- Brush the implant areas gently and keep them clean to avoid infection.
- There may be some mild bleeding for a few hours to a day after surgery. Rinse your mouth with just water or, if your surgeon recommends it, an antiseptic oral rinse.
- Don't chew anything hard or particularly sticky as it can cause irritation and potential damage to the implant areas. Once the false crowns are put on over the abutment screws, then you can eat and chew what you like. Opt for soft and easy-to-chew foods for at least the first week.
- Your surgeon may prescribe medication for pain and inflammation, and to deter infection. Follow your surgeon's instructions where these medications are concerned.
When receiving Lincoln dental implants, they should be cared for like any other surgical site on the body. Be gentle, rest, follow the dentist's and surgeon's orders, and if you need to, use compresses to ease pain. It's also helpful to avoid sleeping on your side the first couple of nights post-surgery if you are a side sleeper.
Follow Your Own Comfort Level
Until your mouth begins to heal, follow the above tips and your dentist's advice. If your mouth doesn't hurt after a few days, you may be able to return to some of your typical routines. Be sure to ask the dentist or surgeon who did your implants if it is okay to sleep on your side, eat something harder, stop taking medication, etc. Your personal comfort level will play into how fast you are healing, but it's important to give your jaw bones time to heal and time for the bone to grow around the abutment screws.
If you experience anything out of the ordinary, such as swelling, fever, etc., contact West Gate Dental or your surgeon right away.