When will my implant feel normal? A guide to aftercare following dental implants

So, you’re out the door of our surgery after having oral implants fitted and are ready to take on the world. Good for you!melbourne-dental-implants

As you researched these alternative dental prosthetics, a boost in your confidence may have been one of the key reasons you chose them, along with restoring functionality to your mouth after the loss of a tooth or teeth.

Depending on the implant type you have had, there may be a bit of a wait until your prosthetics can be fitted, so what can you expect in the meantime?

At High Dental Implants, our team is proud to be able to offer a variety of dental implants in Melbourne. Choosing the most suitable implant for your clinical case, our team can offer you aftercare advice and provide you with tips to speed up healing and promote better oral health. After all, we want you to feel proud of your smile!

Back to the key question; what can you expect between the fitting of dental implants in Melbourne and having the prosthetic teeth attached? Read on to find out!

Bleeding

Having oral implants fitted is a type of surgery and, as our team will need to make some incisions into your gum line, you can expect there to be some bleeding.

Once at home, you can manage the bleeding of your dental implants in Melbourne by biting down on gauze. Do not use cotton wool, as this may shed and become stuck to the implant site.

Management of discomfort

While our team will have you numbed up before beginning the implant fitting, once at home those numbing injections will wear off and you will have to manage the discomfort yourself.

Not to worry! Our previous patients who have had implants fitted with us have described a feeling similar to a dental extraction after the local anaesthetic has worn off. We will advise that you use non-steroidal anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen; this will control and reduce the swelling and manage the discomfort.

Soft foods only!

You have just had surgery and there should be a small piece of metal protruding from your gum. Do not eat hard foods!

Doing so will put unnecessary pressure on the implant, which may cause it to move or fall out! For the first few days following the fitting, only liquids and pureed foods should be consumed and after that, move onto soft foods like mash. You need to keep your strength up to heal, so don’t skip meals!

Cleaning

Keep the implant site clean with a lukewarm, saltwater rinse up to 4 times per day. Once the site’s inflammation has reduced, you can clean it gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Avoid harsh mouthwash during this time.

Settling time

Over the coming 3-6  months, your implant will fuse with your jaw, securing it in place.

During this time, it will settle and start to feel more like natural teeth. Once your customised prosthetics are placed on top, you will probably forget that you even have oral implants.

DISCLAIMER:

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