Dental Implants Aftercare
WHAT ARE DENTAL IMPLANTS?
No mouth is the same, no tooth is the same. The process for implants can vary with the same person.
Despite improvements in dental care, millions of Americans suffer tooth loss — mostly due to tooth decay, periodontal disease, or injury. For many years, the only treatment options available for people with missing teeth were bridges and dentures. But, today, dental implants are available.
The implant is made of titanium, it has the unique ability to fuse to living bone and function as part of it. So eventually, the dental implant becomes part of the jawbone and serves as a strong, long-lasting foundation for your new teeth.
Once the post is in place, a waiting period from 3 to 6 months is required for the second step. Another piece of the implant, called an abutment, is attached to the post and a crown is fashioned and attached to give you a highly realistic-looking and functional prosthetic tooth. In rare cases, some bone loss will have to be addressed before the post can be installed. If this is the case, bone grafting will be required and can add an additional 3 months to the overall process.
WHAT IS INVOLVED IN GETTING A DENTAL IMPLANT?
The first step in the dental implant process is the development of an individualized treatment plan. The plan addresses your specific needs and is prepared by a team of
professionals who are specially trained and experienced in oral surgery and restorative dentistry. This team approach provides coordinated care based on the implant option that is best for you.
Success or failure of implants depends on the health of the person receiving the treatment, drugs which affect the chances of Osseo integration, and the health of the tissues in the mouth. The amount of stress that will be put on the implant and fixture during normal function is also evaluated. Planning the position and number of implants is key to the long-term health of the prosthetic since bio mechanical forces created during chewing can be significant. The prerequisites for long-term success of Osseo integrated dental implants are healthy bone and gingiva. Since both can atrophy after tooth extraction, pre-prosthetic procedures such as sinus lifts or gingival grafts are sometimes required to recreate ideal bone and gingiva.
The final prosthetic is removable, where they can remove the prosthetic. A corresponding adapter is placed in the prosthetic so that the two pieces can be secured together. Your dentist also will match the color of the new teeth to your natural teeth. Because the implant is secured within the jawbone, the replacement teeth look, feel, and function just like your own natural teeth.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF DENTAL IMPLANTS?
• Improved appearance. Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. And because they are designed to fuse with bone, they become permanent.
• Improved speech. With poor-fitting dentures, the teeth can slip within the mouth causing you to mumble or slur your words. Dental implants allow you to speak without the worry that teeth might slip.
• Improved comfort. Because they become part of you, implants eliminate the discomfort of removable dentures.
• Easier eating. Sliding dentures can make chewing difficult. Dental implants function like your own teeth, allowing you to eat your favorite foods with confidence and without pain.
• Improved self-esteem. Dental implants can give you back your smile and help you feel better about yourself.
• Improved oral health. Dental implants do not require reducing other teeth, as a tooth-supported bridge does. Because nearby teeth are not altered to support the implant, more of your own teeth are left intact, improving long-term oral health. Individual implants also allow easier access between teeth, improving oral hygiene.
• Durability. Implants are exceptionally durable and will last many years. With good care, many implants last a lifetime.
HOW DO I CARE FOR DENTAL IMPLANTS?
Dental implants require the same care as real teeth, including brushing, flossing, rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash, and regular dental check-ups.
HOW PAINFUL ARE DENTAL IMPLANTS?
Most people who have received dental implants say that there is little discomfort involved in the procedure. Local anesthesia can be used during the procedure, and most patients report that implants involve less pain than a tooth extraction. After the dental implant, mild soreness can be treated with over-the-counter pain medication.
IMPLANTED DENTURES
MULTIPLE APPOINTMENTS ARE NEEDED
All-on four also known as 4-in-1 is one full arch of teeth. The difference in these dentures is the use of your palate. The deciding factor between these dentures is not only the price, your gum density is the major factor.
4-in-1 3-in-1 2-in-1
Once the healing process outlined above for the implants is complete, a new permanent denture is fashioned and installed onto the previously installed posts. During the overall waiting period, the patient will be fitted with a set of temporary dentures to prevent the disruption of lifestyle. The beauty of an implanted 4-in-1 denture is your palate will be free, allowing taste
while an implanted overdenture may use the palate which can compromise your sense of taste.
IMPLANT ABUTMENT OR LOCATOR
If you had dental implants placed by another dentist and you are interested in completing the process with Amazing Dental Care, we need the following information:
Is the implant and abutment in place? If yes, it is a 2-day process.
If no: an abutment need to be ordered. We need to know the implant manufacturer and size and tooth number.
If we do not have the abutment is stock, we will need to order an abutment which takes 2-3 weeks
Dental Implants Aftercare:
- Eating: Avoid any excessive pressure onto the teeth implants/dressing area. This is very important. You should only eat soft nutritious food for two weeks. Avoid hard sticky foods. Maintain a soft, high protein diet.
- Avoid pushing your tongue near the dental implant area.
- Medication: Take antibiotics and pain relieving pills as prescribed. Finish the course of antibiotics. If you have a reaction to the medication, please contact us. Only take pain medications when needed.
- Hygiene: Avoid brushing the area with the dressing and dental implant. Don’t rinse for one week after the surgery, after one week you can start rinsing with Medicated Mouthwash twice a day. This keeps the teeth implant area clean and undisturbed.
- Exercise: Avoid physical exertion (i.e. sports, heavy lifting etc). This can cause bleeding around the dental implant.
- Alcohol: Avoid alcohol for 2 weeks as this can affect the healing of the tissues around the dental implant.
- Smoking: Avoid smoking for 3 days before treatment and 2 weeks after as this will also slow down the healing process around the teeth implant.
- Food & Drink: Avoid very hot drinks and spicy/acidic foods. Do not eat hard crusty foods as this can cause more pressure on the implant.
- Do not use a toothpick or touch the dental implant area with your tongue.
- Ice packs: A cold icepack should be applied externally over the teeth implant treated area as much as possible for the first three days. This helps reduce swelling.
- If you currently wear a denture, we may modify the denture to fit over the implants. The denture will be loose. The loose denture will protect the gums and implants.