If you are considering dental implant treatment, you should know about the aftercare measures it needs. The failure of aftercare and maintenance of dental implants reduce the longevity of the implant.
And, if you are a senior citizen, then dental implants for pensioners need more care and maintenance than adults. The reason is that senior citizens’ jawbones weaken with age. That’s why improper maintenance of dental implants would result in nerve injury and infection.
Whether you are a teenager with solid bones or a senior citizen, dental implants need the utmost care and maintenance for every age group.
Maintaining dental implants is very easy as it involves essential aftercare. This blog will give you dental implant aftercare tips that will help you keep your teeth healthy.
What are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is a tooth replacement treatment. The dental implant consists of an abutment that is used to replace your broken or chipped tooth with a new tooth on the jawbone using a screw. Dental implants are considered to be the most convenient tooth replacement treatment due to their easy application and maintenance. That’s the reason why dental implants for seniors have gained extreme popularity these days.
Why is Dental Implant Aftercare Necessary?
Although dental implants are easy to install, they need utmost care and maintenance post-treatment. The immediate and efficient aftercare helps your newly replaced tooth align effectively with your jawbone.
Besides, it also helps keep your dental implant strong and healthy for a long time. Implants that are not appropriately maintained post-treatment are likely to cause various dental issues like nerve injury, bleeding, and dental infection. That’s why dentists always recommend following the necessary care to keep your dental implant functioning for a long. Moreover, if you are a senior citizen, your gums and bones get weakened with age. That’s why aftercare becomes of utmost importance for dental implants of seniors.
5 Essential Dental Implant Aftercare Tips to Know
Here, we have listed five essential aftercare tips to help you maintain your dental implants in the long run.
Manage Post-Treatment Swelling and Bleeding
It is obvious to have some bleeding and swelling after undergoing the treatment. However, it will resolve automatically within a few days of treatment. In case of swelling, you can apply ice packs to the area where the dental implant is placed. Besides, you can have over-the-counter pain relievers to manage swelling pain. Moreover, your dentist would prescribe medication to help you deal with the bleeding and swelling effectively. Swelling and bleeding can become a significant concern when they persist even after a few days. In such a scenario, you should immediately consult the dental implant dentists.
Avoid Hard and Sticky Food Components
Biting on hard or sticky food components like apples or caramel immediately after the treatment can loosen your dental implant, or it might fall out of its position in severe cases. That’s why avoiding hard and sticky foods is strictly recommended for a few days after undergoing dental implant surgery. Instead, you should opt for softer food components like yoghurt and applesauce. Once your dental implant gets healed completely, you can start consuming hard foods quickly.
Avoid Smoking and Drinking Alcohol
Regular smoking and alcohol consumption is, of course, dangerous to your health. But they can also be harmful to your dental implant’s health. Smoking after undergoing dental implant treatment can cause inflammation in your gums where the implant surgery has taken place. At the same time, alcohol can cause the issue of dehydration, which can slow down the healing process. In some cases, it would fail the dental implant surgery, which would waste your invested money and time.
Maintain Proper Oral Hygiene
Taking care for a few days post-treatment is not enough to maintain your dental implants for the long run. You need to maintain oral health to have your implant a longer life. To maintain proper oral health, brush your teeth twice daily with a soft-bristled brush. Vigorous brushing can create cracks on your implant. That’s why it is always recommended to have brushing with a soft-bristled brush. Besides, you should cultivate the habit of regular flossing immediately after eating as it will prevent the food particles from trapping in your implant, thus helping it stay healthy.
Have Regular Dental Checkups and Follow-Ups
Regular dentistry visits are essential to maintain the health of your dental implants. Moreover, regular dental checkups would allow your dentists to check for any signs of damage or infection in your dental implant early, enabling them to cure the problem before making it severe.
Conclusion
Dental implants can be a successful tooth replacement surgery if proper care is taken after undergoing the surgery. Following some aftercare measures like handling post-treatment bleeding and swelling, avoiding hard and sticky foods, avoiding smoking and alcohol, having regular dental checkups, and maintaining proper oral health will help youngsters and pensioners maintain their dental implants with ease.
Woodleigh Waters Dental Surgery becomes your perfect dental partner if you seek expert dental implants in Berwick. Our dental professionals have years of expertise in providing dental implant surgeries. Besides, we also offer lifetime support in maintaining dental implants.
Contact us now to get the best dental implants in Narre Warren and Berwick.