Dental implants can have a large impact on the appearance of your smile and your overall quality of life. That being said, the process for placing dental implants is a surgical procedure that requires specific attention to healing afterward. Your dentist in Davie will work to guide you through the recovery process with instructions on what to do following your operation. Our team at Regency Square Dental shares a few extra tips for a speedy and smooth recovery in this blog post.
#1 Leave the Implant Site Alone
For the first 24 hours following your procedure, the best thing to do is leave the surgical site alone. If you are bleeding, it is okay to use some clean, damp gauze to stop it. Otherwise, leave the site untouched for the first day. You can still perform your regular oral care routine, but take care to avoid brushing on or around the implant site.
#2 Stay Ahead of the Pain
Your general anesthetic will begin to wear off around two hours after you get dental implants in Davie. At that point, you may begin to notice some pain and discomfort. Work to stay on top of it by taking either a prescribed or over-the-counter painkiller before the anesthetic wears off.
Make sure that you take the painkillers as directed, following the instructions on the bottle or the instructions provided by your dentist. If you notice that the pain isn’t subsiding after a week, visit your dentist near you for a checkup.
#3 Follow Your Post-Operative Instructions
It is vital that you follow the instructions provided by your dental professional after your surgery. They know exactly how to ensure that you heal successfully and will provide you with very detailed instructions. For the best results, you must follow the instructions carefully. These instructions should tell you how to care for your surgical site, what symptoms to expect when healing, how long to stick to soft foods, and when to seek help.
#4 Stick to a Soft Food Diet
This will likely be outlined in your post-operative instructions, but it is important to be gentle with your mouth, jaw, teeth, and gums for the first while after getting dental implants near you. Try to stick to soft meals such as mashed potatoes and pasta or smoothies to get your fruits and vegetables in.
#5 Keep Your Mouth as Clean as Possible
To give your mouth time to heal, you need to keep the surgical site and your mouth as clean and hygienic as possible. In the first few days, keep food away from the implant site as much as possible by chewing and swallowing on the opposite side of your mouth. When you finish eating, rinse your mouth with warm water to clear out any lingering debris. You can also use warm salt water to disinfect the implant site after eating.
Say Hello to the Smile of Your Dreams
Getting dental implants is the start of a life-long healthy, stunning smile. Keeping your implant clean and maintaining your oral hygiene is the best way to ensure success. If you would like to learn more about dental implants, please do not hesitate to contact our team at Regency Square Dental. We are happy to assist you with all of your dental needs.