Aftercare for dental implants broken down

So, you took the plunge and contacted our team about having oral implants fitted. Good for you! Once you have had your oral implant fitted to your mouth and you are at home, you may have some rather specific questions relating to the aftercare that you forgot to ask at the last appointment.

The aftercare of your oral implants is equally as important as the fitting itself and for your implants to last and fuse correctly, you will need to take care and follow a very specific set of instructions. Luckily, it’s not that tough!

When you come to High Dental to meet with our team to have dental implants Melbourne fitted, we will always aim to ensure that the implants are fitted using the best technology available and that the area is kept clean during the fitting. We will also provide you with specific aftercare advice for your unique implant fitting to ensure that the implants fuse without hassle or delay.

But what are some of the tips that we can offer to our patients relating to the aftercare of dental implants Melbourne? Read on to find out.

Cleaning the area

It’s likely that once you have had dental implants Melbourne fitted, the area surrounding the implant is going to be very sore as it would be with any kind of surgery. To keep the site free from food or other debris, you will need to rinse it as many times as needed per day with lukewarm salt water. This will help to reduce the swelling and will of course reduce any debris that could become stuck and cause an infection. Only begin brushing the area when our team gives you the green light to do so, as you could irritate the gums or even cause the implant to move.

Discomfort

It’s likely that after you have had oral implants fitted that there will be some discomfort and many patients have compared this to having a tooth extracted. To manage this, our team recommends taking over-the-counter pain relief such as paracetamol. Try to refrain from taking ibuprofen or aspirin, as these have blood thinning qualities and can cause the bruising in the area to worsen and bleeding to occur.

Check-ups

In the weeks following the fitting of your oral implants, you will need to see our team regularly. This is so we can assess that the area around the implant site is healing and in the following months, it will allow us to oversee whether the fusing of the implants to the jaw is going as planned. It’s worth noting that oral implants take between 3 to 6 months to fuse depending on your age and if it reaches the 12-month mark and there are no signs of the implants fusing, we will need to remove them and discuss other restorative options.

Food

When you are healing from having oral implants fitted, you will need to eat soft and nutritious food. This is to help your body to recover and also prevent you from putting any undue pressure on the implant, which could cause it to move or fuse at an unusual angle. Be sure to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated and avoid eating hard or sticky foods.

When to seek emergency help

While unlikely, it is worth noting that an emergency can sometimes occur when you are recovering from oral implant surgery. Statistically, the most likely culprit is an infection. If you notice any discolouration, have a fever, feel unwell or notice any untoward swelling in the area which is worsening, then you need to contact our emergency dental team for help.

DISCLAIMER

All treatment carries risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.