Have you made the choice to permanently replace your missing teeth with dental implants in Coral Springs? You’ve made an excellent decision for your smile. Dental implants can last for a lifetime with the right aftercare. Besides the proper integration with your jawbone, remaining infection-free is essential to ensuring your new smile lasts for decades. You can give your dental implants the foundation they need to thrive by following 5 simple aftercare tips.
Caring for Dental Implants
The process of rebuilding your smile will occur in multiple phases. After you’ve healed from any previous treatments, the first step will involve surgically placing titanium implant posts into your jawbone to support your restorations. The posts will stimulate your jaw to encourage new bone growth, so the two will fuse together through a process called osseointegration. This can take several months; therefore, you’ll need to care for the posts to ensure nothing adds unnecessary delays to your treatment plan.
- Maintain Your Oral Hygiene
Your surgical sites will be a bit sore for a few days while you heal, but you’ll still need to maintain your oral hygiene while you recover. Carefully brush and floss any remaining natural teeth and your implant posts at least twice a day to remove plaque and bacteria.
- Don’t Smoke
Smoking limits your body’s ability to heal and fight infections. As a result, it’s best to completely kick the habit if possible. If you can’t, your dentist will recommend you avoid smoking for at least 2 months after your placement surgery. It’s also recommended you stop smoking 2 weeks before your placement surgery to give your mouth time to recover from the effects of tobacco.
- Don’t Place Sharp Objects in Your Mouth
If you get something caught in your teeth and dental floss can’t get it out, it’s easy to grab a toothpick or another sharp object to try to remove it. Although this may seem like the simple solution, you might accidentally cause an injury to the healing tissue. Not to mention, if it hasn’t been properly sterilized, it can increase your risk of infection. If you get something stuck in your teeth and you can’t get it out, it’s best to call your dentist.
- Don’t Wait to Call Your Dentist
In most cases, there won’t be any unexpected complications while you recover from your placement surgery; however, if any redness, swelling, or worsening of pain develops, don’t wait to contact your dentist.
Invest in a Complete Smile
You can enjoy the next best thing to your real teeth with dental implants. Make sure your investment lasts by taking the time to care for your new smile.
About Coral Springs Dentistry
Coral Springs Dentistry has provided high-quality care since 1988. Our team of professionals is qualified and experienced to provide many specialty treatments, including dental implants. If you’re ready to replace your missing teeth, we can help. Contact our office today to see if dental implants are right for you.