Dental Implants Maintenance … Now What: Dental Implants Maintenance from Mississauga based Periodontal Associates
The one main question we get from our patients is, “Am I cured?” The short answer is, no… you are in remission. There is always a chance that another area of your mouth can become infected and require dental implants miantenance or other “fix” down the road. But let’s look at what happens starting with Day 1 after your dental implant.
Dental Implant Maintenance and Care
Your dental implant procedure (whether it was a one-step or multi-step plan) is complete and you’re on your way home. Our team of experts will advise you of all the possible side effects to a dental implant surgery and instruct you on how to care for your new tooth while you heal, which differs for every patient depending on your own body’s healing powers and the procedure itself.
Let’s talk generalities. Immediately following your procedure, you might experience some of the following:
- Swelling: Expect 2 to 3 days of swelling before your gums return to normal. Applying ice packs in 15-minute intervals to your cheek can help minimize swelling and pain.
- Bleeding: Slight bleeding or “oozing” is normal during the first 1 to 2 days following surgery. If excessive bleeding occurs, place a wet tea bag (regular not herbal) directly on the area that is bleeding and apply firm pressure for 30 minutes. Do not rinse or spit for 12 hours. If excessive bleeding continues, contact our office immediately.
- Pain or Sensitivity: Minor pain is to be expected for the first 1 to 2 days following surgery. If pain seems excessive, contact our office at any time.
- Bruising: In the first 24-48 hours after a surgical procedure, slight bruising may occur. If a bruise appears, there is no cause for alarm. It is not a sign of a complication. Bruising will resolve on its own, usually over a period of 1 week. However, if bruising seems excessive or at all questionable, do not hesitate to contact our office.
Success of Dental Implants
These side affects are common but often short-lived. While we do our best to ensure that the dental implant is 100% successful, there is a possibility that the dental implant will not fuse properly and have to be removed.
Part of your discharge instructions will be to avoid certain behaviours that could negatively impact the success of your procedure. Some of the immediate instructions are to:
- Avoid smoking for at least two weeks. Smoking is an irritant to healing tissues and will delay the healing process.
- Avoid brushing the implant site until given the go ahead by your surgeon – usually after the stitches dissolve
- Stay away from hard foods: candy, crusty bread, hard fruits, small seeds and nuts
Dental Implants Maintenance Plan
Like any good oral health care plan, taking care of your dental implants requires regular maintenance. You will meet with your periodontal expert for two regular follow-ups as well as for a tissue examination to ensure proper healing of the mouth and surrounding tissue.
Regular dental check-ups to look for, and remove, plaque and toxins on your gums will help you prevent or catch periodontal disease in the early stages and hopefully avoiding another dental implant procedure.
Our periodontal experts will work directly with your dentist to ensure that the you receive the best care possible from the initial diagnosis until discharge. At any time if there is a concern or a question, our Periodontal Associates team is here to help.
Call us at 1-800-341-7471 or connect by filling out the form below. We want to see you smile!
