Dental Implant Aftercare

If you have recently made the decision to replace your missing teeth with dental implants, then congratulations! Dental implants can help restore your smile not only cosmetically but medically as well. That way, your jawbone stays in good shape. As the first step of the dental implant surgical process, your dentist will surgically implant a thin metal rod into your gums. Then, as long as it has healed correctly over the course of several months, your dentist will then put on a crown and call it good. However, to make sure that you can get to the second step, it is important that your gums heal properly. So, how can you encourage your gums to heal well? This article will take a closer look at a few suggestions for you to consider. 

1. Take NSAIDs

The sooner that you can get rid of the swelling in your mouth, the better. As soon as you are done with surgery and as long as your health permits, your dentist may recommend that you take some over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen. These drugs are great at helping you kick your inflammation to the curb. 

2. Ice It

Another way that you can get rid of swelling is to ice the outside of your mouth. Usually, patients will experience a little bit of swelling on and around their cheeks which can make things more painful and uncomfortable. When you get home from surgery, you can use a soft gel ice pack and gently place it on your cheek. Just make sure that you put some sort of towel or cloth between the ice pack and your skin so that you don't get a freezer burn from the ice. 

3. Rinse

In order for your gums to heal well around the implant, you need to keep the incision site clan. To do this, your dental implant services provider may recommend that you rinse your mouth gently with some warm water and salt. The combination of these two things will help fight off infection and help your gums feel a whole lot better in the process. Plus, it will help get rid of any food that's trapped between your implant and gums that may irritate it 

After your dentist sends you home from dental implant surgery, they should send you home with a detailed list of instructions. To learn more, contact your dentist today! 

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