Have you made the choice to replace your missing teeth with dental implants in Springfield? You’ve made a smart decision for your dental health and your quality of life. They closely replicate the entire structure of your tooth, allowing you to enjoy the next best thing to your real teeth. Not to mention, they are the most predictable treatment for tooth loss with the highest success rate. In fact, your dental implants can last for decades. Here are 3 tips to ensure your new smile has the care it needs to thrive.
1. Keep your mouth clean and protect your surgical sites.
The biggest threat to the long-term success of your smile is an infection. Immediately after your placement surgery, you have the highest risk of infection until you’ve fully healed, which can take several weeks. There’s no need to worry. You can significantly reduce your risk of complications by following a few tips:
- Clean any remaining natural teeth using your regular oral hygiene routine but be careful not to touch the surgical sites with your toothbrush until any tenderness in the gum tissue has subsided. Then, clean the area well twice a day after you’re healed.
- Rinse your mouth with warm salt water a few times throughout the day to neutralize bacteria and promote the healing process.
- Eat soft foods until your gum tissue has healed. Keep food away from your surgical sites as long as possible, especially those that are hard or sharp, like taco shells.
- Don’t smoke for at least 2 weeks after your placement surgery.
2. Take extra precautions until your anesthetic dissipates.
A local anesthetic is used to ensure your comfort during your placement surgery. Unfortunately, it can take several hours for the effects to dissipate, which means you may not have full sensations in your mouth. As a result, it’s best to take a few extra precautions until the anesthetic wears off, such as:
- Check your foods and drinks to ensure they are room temperature. Anything that’s too hot can cause a burn you may not feel right away.
- Don’t rub your tongue or finger over the surgical site, even if you don’t feel any pain.
3. Manage any pain or swelling.
As with any surgery, you can expect there to be some pain, swelling, or bruising while you recover, which tends to peak about 2-3 days after the procedure. Thankfully, there are several things you can do to manage it.
- Apply a cold compress to the outside of your face for 10 minutes. It can be repeated every 20 minutes.
- Sleep with your pillow propped up for 2-3 nights to reduce swelling.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever.
Enjoy a Complete Smile
Your new smile can last for a lifetime with the right care. Take the time to commit to your dental implants to protect your investment.
About Dr. Eric L. Tolliver
Dr. Eric L. Tolliver believes a healthy smile improves your overall quality of life. He strives to provide the advanced solutions each patient needs to enhance their wellbeing through their oral health. Besides caring for your natural teeth, he also provides the latest tooth replacement options, like dental implants. If you’re ready to treat your tooth loss, contact our office today to schedule your consultation.