After you have dental implants, it is important to make sure that they remain firmly rooted in your gums as well as to maintain the natural aesthetics of the prosthetic teeth. While it is true that dental implant treatments enjoy a high success rate – which partly accounts for its healthy take up rates – the longevity and continued success of the treatment also depends on how you maintain your implanted teeth after the procedure.
Here are 5 Post Dental Implant treatment tips to help you out:
Take Medication
To help manage any pain or discomfort that you may experience after the procedure, the dentist may prescribe post-treatment medication. It is important that you follow the dentist’s instructions and directions on the prescription bottles. The medication is especially helpful before your local anaesthetic starts to wear off in the initial post-surgery period. Common medications include:
Chlorhexidine mouthwash: This can help to keep the surgical region free of oral bacteria. You can use it as prescribed for about a week, which is the interim period between surgery and the follow-up dental visit.
Ibuprofen: This anti-inflammatory medication helps to reduce swelling and relieves minor pain. It is often the only medication you will need to manage the discomfort.
Paracetamol: This pain-relieving medication may be used in conjunction with Ibuprofen, where necessary.
Try to Prevent Bleeding
If bleeding occurs, try to stop it by applying pressure on the area by biting down gently on a piece of gauze for about 20-30 minutes. Do not remove gauze during this period. If bleeding persists, repeat the gauze pressure with a firmer bite. It also helps to keep your head elevated until the bleeding subsides. You may also apply cold compress with an ice pack. Post-surgery bleeding after 24 hours is not very common. If this happens, please contact our dental office for further discussion.
Try to Lower Swelling
Swelling may occur in the first three days following the surgery. You may apply cold compress around the jaw area where the swelling usually occurs. Apply the ice packs every 2-3 hours, depending on how severe it is. Keeping your head elevated can also help to reduce the swelling and discomfort. After the first 24-48 hours, if you are still experiencing discomfort, you should switch to using a warm towel. If swelling persists after 1-2 weeks, it may be a sign of infection. Please contact our dental office if you suspect any post-surgery infection.
Eat Soft Foods
You should not eat anything in the immediate 2-3 hours following the procedure or wait until the anaesthetic effects completely wear off. You should also wait a few weeks before resuming your normal eating habits, especially that which requires hard chewing. In the meantime, you should only consume liquid or soft foods. If your implants are all located in one side of your mouth, then you may use the other side of the mouth for chewing purposes. However, be extremely cautious to avoid chewing on the surgical side of your mouth until the healing is complete.
Perform Regular Mouth Rinses
Unless otherwise instructed, you may rinse with warm lightly salted water – about 3 times a day – from the second day after the surgery. The objective is to cleanse the oral cavity and minimize plaque build-up. If it was prescribed, you may also use the above-mentioned Chlorhexidine mouthwash as it serves the same purpose.
Interested to find out more about our range of Dental Implant Solutions? Please contact Sailors Bay Dentistry at (02) 9958 0400. For those who have dental implants applied, you may also book an appointment for a regular check to make sure that your implants are kept in optimum condition at all times.