Dental implants are a modern alternative to dentures. The advantage to having implants is they allow patients the same benefits of having a full set of natural, healthy teeth. Dentures were designed to replace natural teeth, but fell far short of being a solid solution. Dental implants by Waterloo professionals provide more of a “real feel” with fewer complications and frustrations. Once the procedure has been completed and patients are completely healed, they function just as well as natural teeth allowing patients to eat the foods that are commonly impossible with dentures.
What to Expect Following Implant Surgery
Dental implant treatments in Waterloo are considered a surgical procedure. It may be completed in a single stage, but many people require several stages. There can be some discomforts following the surgical procedure. Some of the things experienced include:
- Swelling of the face and gums
- Skin and gums may be bruised
- The implant site may be painful
- There may be some minor bleeding
If these symptoms get markedly worse in the few days after the procedure, patients should contact the oral surgeon. They may prescribe anti-inflammatory medications, antibiotics or medications to help relieve pain.
Caring for Your Mouth After Implant Surgery
After each stage of implant surgery, it is important to eat only soft foods. This allows the gums and mouth to heal. It can take 10 to 14 days for the mouth to heal totally. The surgeon put stitches in during the surgery and they will usually be removed in around 10 days. Sometimes, surgeons use self-dissolving stitches that will go away on their own over a short period of time.
Don’t drink hot liquids for the first day after the implant surgery. Patients should try to keep their tongue away from the area so it’s not disturbed, but allowed to heal. Strenuous activities should be avoided for at least the first 48 hours following the treatment.
Oral Hygiene After Dental Implant Surgery
Once a person has their implant dentures by Waterloo surgeons, it’s important to keep their teeth and mouths clean by observing good oral hygiene. The surgeon usually provides a mouthwash to use for one week. This should be done per his instructions, typically for one minute, three times every day for a week. While avoiding the surgical site, other teeth should still be cleaned with a toothbrush starting the evening after the surgery. Once the tenderness has subsided, patients are encouraged to start gently brushing the surgical site as well.
Food should be kept away from the surgical site for as long as possible and the mouth should be rinsed out after eating. This will help keep the mouth clean and aid the healing process. Patients are encouraged to avoid the use of tobacco until the wounds have had time to heal properly. Smoking specifically can hinder the healing process.
Patients should be sure to follow all the instructions given by the oral surgeon. This will help ensure the healing occurs as quickly and easily as possible.
