Dental Implant Maintenance Instructions

Once your new tooth or teeth have been fitted there will be a post-operative care plan that you will need to follow to keep your new implants functioning well and looking great. You will also need to attend clinic on a regular basis for a review of your gum maintenance. These steps are vital to ensure that you maintain good implant health. Although the implant itself is not ‘alive’ the gum and surrounding bone are and are susceptible to infection which might lead to the failure of your implants so they must be kept in tip top health. Implants, unlike natural teeth, have no shock absorbing system. If you have a heavy bite then the implants will need a regular check by your dentist.  

Dental Implant Aftercare

Your dental implants might have been a simple or a more complex operation but either way, post-operative care is extremely important. Pain and infection and swelling that might arise can all be minimised if you follow the instructions you are given. You may have a metal healing abutment that protrudes through the gum tissue at the site of the implant. You should clean it just as you would a tooth. You must be sure that you do not chew on the implant while you are healing and until the tooth is finally fitted on to the implant.

Immediately following surgery:

You will need to bite down on the gauze pad that will be placed over the surgical site for about sixty minutes. The gauze pad should then be removed and replaced by another.

Avoid any vigorous mouth rinsing and don’t touch the wound area after surgery because this might cause bleeding and dislodge the blood clot that needs to form.

To keep swelling to a minimum, use ice packs held to your face at the site of surgery. to the sides of your face where surgery was performed. You should take the pain medication you are prescribed early enough for it to be absorbed before the anaesthetic you have been given wears off.

You should take it easy on the day of surgery and rest until you feel comfortable again.

Under No Circumstances Should You Smok

Antibiotics:

Be sure to take the antibiotics that have been prescribed to you, even if you think you are absolutely fine. They will prevent infection.   

What and when to eat:

Use your remaining natural teeth to chew through the healing phase and drink plenty of fluids. Don't use a straw. The sucking motion might suck out the healing blood clot causing you to bleed, and eat soft food and liquids on the day of surgery.

Oral Hygiene:

Healing will depend on good dental hygiene but be gentle when brushing around surgical areas.   

Wearing your Prosthesis:

Any full or partial dentures should not be worn straight away, after surgery. The prosthesis is for aesthetics only and will not survive vigorous chewing. If you have any concern especially around bleeding or pain, contact us at the surgery.