Caring For Your Dental Implant

A dental implant is placed into your jaw and can be used to support one or more teeth. The implant acts as an artificial tooth root, which allows the tooth to function like the rest of your natural teeth. The tooth is supported by your jaw bone rather than the surrounding teeth, which results in a very natural-feeling restoration.

If cared for correctly, they should last as long as your natural teeth. The implant portion is designed to last a lifetime, while the crown, bridge or denture will typically last for around 7 – 12 years before it needs to be repaired or replaced.

In this article, we look at what you need to do to ensure that your dental implant lasts for as long as possible, so you can enjoy an authentic restoration that functions like the rest of your natural teeth.

What can go wrong with dental implants?

The biggest risk factor associated with dental implants is the risk of infection in the bone, which can cause the bone to shrink. This could allow the dental implant to become loose and fall out.

This condition is known as peri implantitis, and it can be very painful. It happens when bacteria is able to build up in the mouth, leading to inflammation of the gums. If this is left to develop, it can spread to the jaw bone.

Good oral hygiene and healthy habits are essential for caring for the implant. If the implant fails, it may not be possible to repeat the procedure due to a loss of jaw bone density. This could leave you with a permanent gap in your smile.

Caring for your mouth after dental implant surgery

The dental implant procedure often takes place over multiple visits, so you’ll need to be aware of the recovery time and expectations before you start your treatment. Your dental implant will be placed under local anaesthetic, so it is important that you do not eat or drink until the anaesthetic has worn off.

This can take anywhere from an hour to two hours. Wherever possible try not to disturb the surgical area for the rest of the day as this gives it a chance to start healing. Don’t poke at the area with your finger or your tongue. This can be very difficult to avoid, but it’s essential to allow the site to heal correctly.

Smoking will slow healing, causing increased discomfort and increased chance of dry sockets, which can be incredibly painful. Smoking is strongly discouraged during the healing phase, and you should consider quitting altogether before you start dental implant treatment. This is because of the long-term risks associated with smoking and poor oral health, which could lead to implant failure.

It is important to keep the mouth clean. You should brush your teeth the night of surgery, but be gentle around the surgical sites.

If there is minimal bleeding, saltwater rinses may begin 24 hours after surgery (mix 1 tablespoon of salt with 8 ounces of water.) Swish gently and allow the water to drip into the sink. Rinses should be done 2 – 3 times a day, especially after eating.

It is also possible to rinse the site with specially designed mouthwashes. Avoid any mouthwash containing alcohol as this will be very painful and might lead to dryness which can delay healing.

Begin your normal oral hygiene routine as soon as possible after surgery. Soreness and swelling may not permit vigorous brushing, but it is extremely important to clean your teeth within the bounds of comfort. Maintaining a clean environment adjacent to the healing of surgical wounds is required for optimum and speedy healing.

Swelling is a normal occurrence after surgery and will not reach its maximum until 2 – 3 days after surgery. It can be minimized by using a cold pack, ice bag or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel and applied firmly to the cheek adjacent to the surgical area. This should be applied twenty minutes on and twenty minutes off during the first 24 hours after surgery.

Following surgery, you may experience some discomfort but this should be easily treated with over the counter painkillers. If you take the first pill before the anaesthetic has worn off, you should be able to manage any discomfort better.

Eat any nourishing food that can be taken with comfort. Avoid extremely hot foods. It is important not to skip meals! If you take nourishment regularly you will feel better, gain strength, have less discomfort and heal faster. Suitable foods include things like scrambled egg, yoghurt, meal replacement smoothies, banana, baked beans, mashed potato and soup.

When drinking anything, including smoothies, don’t use a straw. This is because the suction created can cause the stitches in your mouth to come loose, which could lead to bleeding and a delayed recovery.

Once the tooth or teeth have been fully restored

Thorough oral hygiene routine

One of the most important ways to care for your new dental implant is to ensure that you have a good oral hygiene routine in place. Dental implants can be cleaned in the same way as your natural teeth.

You should brush your teeth twice a day using fluoride toothpaste and use interdental cleaning aids such as floss, tape or interdental brushes to clean in between and around the base of the implant. Your dentist will be able to advise you on the best interdental products to use.

Quit Smoking

Smoking is one of the greatest risks to your implant. It is therefore advised that you should try to quit smoking in order to ensure that your implant has a long lifespan. 

Your dentist will be able to give you help and advice on smoking cessation. Some dentists will not place implants until you quit smoking because of the increased risk of implant failure.

Maintenance

You should visit your dentists for regular routine appointments so your dentist can check the health of your implants, teeth and gums and can remove any plaque or calculus build up.

You will normally be advised to see the dentist every six months but may also need to see the hygienist for regular cleanings to ensure that the tissue around the implant stays healthy.

Professional cleaning of implants is more complex than cleaning natural teeth, which means you may find you need longer appointments and the dentist or hygienist will use special instruments to maintain your implants. The dentist will want to make sure that you are caring for your implants as much as you do, so be sure to attend regularly.

What happens if you don’t care for your implant?

Dental implants are a considerable investment, so it makes sense to take appropriate steps to care for the restoration in the days, weeks, months and years following the treatment.

We often find that patients are more diligent in their oral health care following dental implants. This is simply because of the cost of treatment and the potential downsides of losing the implants due to incorrect care.

If not cared for, dental implants will develop a coating of calculus and plaque similar to what you would experience on your natural teeth. If left untreated, this can lead to gum disease, bleeding, soreness and general discomfort. In the long term, this can lead to bone loss, with the potential for the implant to fail.

Gum disease is one of the biggest risk factors for implant failure, as it impacts the supporting structures that hold your natural teeth and your dental implant in place. If you are struggling with any aspect of caring for your teeth after dental implant treatment, book an appointment with your dentist or dental hygienist.

If you need more information or would like to book an implant consultation with one of our highly trained team members please call Leigh Dental Centre on 01702 472929 to book an appointment today.