Many patients across the UK opt for dental implants in London to permanently correct various dental issues, such as missing teeth or damaged teeth, and to improve their facial structure and ability to chew.
Dental implants ultimately enhance your smile by replacing your existing teeth with natural-looking replacement teeth.
However, dental implant treatment is a type of dental surgery procedure, as a titanium tooth root must be anchored within your jawbone – you may even require bone grafting beforehand!
So, just like any other surgical procedure, dental implants require plenty of post-operative care – but what does this care entail, and is it difficult to maintain?
Why is post-operative dental implant care important?
Regardless of how many dental implants in Norwich you opt for, whether it’s a single tooth implant or both arches, you’ll need to follow a post-operative care plan for several reasons.
Ensure their long-term success
To prevent implant failure and ensure they perform for many years, you must be sure to follow the after-care instructions given to you by your dentist after implant placement.
If you ignore the strict ‘do-nots’ of your recovery plan, your dental implants in Norwich may loosen, as your new artificial tooth roots haven’t had time to fuse to your jawbone yet.
Whereas if you follow the plan to a T, the replacement teeth can last up to three decades.
Prevent infection
The correct oral and dental care will help to reduce the chances of infection after implant surgery. Peri-implantitis is an infection of the gum tissue that can spread to the jawbone, causing your implant roots to become unstable and potentially fail.
Following strict after-surgery care from your implant surgeon will reduce the likelihood of infections like peri-implantitis occurring, helping to keep your dental implants in London strong.
Post-operative dental care
After the dental implant procedure is complete, implant dentists provide their patients with advice and a strict recovery plan, which ensures the proper care is taken to look after implants and oral health post-treatment.
They’ll advise you to:
- Avoid hot drinks and food for 24 hours after dental implant surgery.
- Only eat soft foods for seven days after the procedure.
- Take any antibiotics your dentist prescribes.
- For the first 24 hours, keep your mouth clean by using a dentist-recommended mouthwash four times a day.
- Refrain from drinking alcohol and smoking or vaping for at least 14 days after treatment.
- Don’t touch your implant with your tongue or hands.
- Take over-the-counter pain relief such as Ibuprofen if needed.
You’ll be asked to visit your implant dentist during the post-op period to ensure your dental implants in London are healing as expected, and that the titanium root is successfully fusing to the bone in your jaw.
Moving forward, you should care for your implants by maintaining a good oral hygiene regime. This includes brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice daily, flossing between meals, and visiting the dentist regularly for routine check-ups.
These measures will help to prevent gum disease, which can harm your dental implants in Norwich.
