Dental implants are artificial tooth roots placed inside the gums. Artificial teeth or dental crowns are attached to dental implants and these artificial teeth look and feel like real teeth. Dental implants like dentures allow people who have lost a tooth to replace those missing teeth.
Dental implants can improve a person’s ability to chew and speak clearly. However, getting dental implants is a process that can cause mild discomfort. Read on for tips and advice on recovering from a dental surgery.
7. Manage the Bleeding
Your oral surgeon will make an incision in your gums while using a curette to clean the surface. This curette should have undergone a curette retipping prior to the procedure to ensure it’s optimal functionality. Then, a metal part will be placed inside the gums. This metal is designed to bond to the bone in your jaw. It’s normal to bleed during this process. However, the surgeon will use a local anesthetic to numb your mouth, so you shouldn’t feel pain during surgery.
According to this page It’s normal to bleed immediately after having the metal part implanted. The surgeon will place some gauze in your mouth to staunch the bleeding. Bite down on the gauze as instructed.
6. Handle Swelling
After the surgeon places the metal part, you will be sent home. Gums must heal for several months before receiving any dental crowns. It’s not unusual for your gums to swell for a couple of days. To manage this pain, hold an ice pack against your cheek.
5. Take Prescription Antibiotics
Your dentist will prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection. Take this medicine as directed by your dentist or oral surgeon.
4. Manage Pain
After the numbness wears off, you may feel soreness in your gums in the area of the incision. This is normal. To combat pain, take over-the-counter pain tablets. Or, your dentist may prescribe pain medicine for you. Take all pain meds as directed. Do not take any medication for longer than necessary.
3. Alter Your Diet Temporarily
It’s best to wait until the pain meds wear off before you eat. Typically, this means waiting a couple of hours after the surgery. Waiting to eat prevents you from chewing the inside of your cheek or your tongue while your mouth is numb.
Your surgeon will instruct you to eat soft foods. Chewing on crunchy or hard foods may cause soreness. Some soft foods to try are yogurt, applesauce and other foods that require no chewing. You can typically return to eating a normal diet a couple of days after the surgery.
2. Rinse with Salty Water
Most surgeons will instruct you to rinse your mouth with salt water. To do this, put a teaspoon of salt into a few ounces of water and stir the salt and water together. Gargle this salty solution in your mouth for about 30 seconds. Do this 4-5 times daily for the first few days after surgery.
1. Keep All Upcoming Dental Appointments
Several weeks after the dental implants surgery, your prosthetic dentistry surgeon will check your gums to ensure that they’ve healed. Then, an artificial tooth called a crown will be placed above the gum line. The crown is affixed to a metal post that pokes upward through your gums.
Stay in contact with your dentist and other specialists, like these guys, throughout this whole process. Call the office if you experience severe side effects. Keep in mind that minor bleeding and slight pain are normal. Excessive bleeding and excessive pain might be a sign of infection.
Dental implants surgery is a minor surgery that most often has good results. If you have healthy gum tissue and bone, you are probably a good candidate for dental implants. Contact your dentist for an oral evaluation.