(734) 999-9909
Living with missing teeth due to tooth decay, periodontal disease, or injury can be challenging. Aside from making you conscious about your appearance, this dental issue can make it difficult for you to speak and eat well, too.
Fortunately, you don’t need to suffer from this forever. There are dental procedures you can seek to make your teeth functional again, such as dental implants.
What Are Dental Implants?
In the simplest words, dental implants are structures that replace missing teeth and their roots. They provide a strong foundation for your pearly whites and allow you to regain function and comfort in your mouth.
Considering this, you should know that dental implants require oral surgery. The process mainly involves extracting your old tooth and inserting a titanium post into your jawbone. If it is not strong enough to support the post, bone grafting may also be done. Once the post is secure, a crown or overdenture is then placed on top.
Throughout the implant procedure, you may be put under local anesthesia, general anesthesia, or sedation, depending on your preference.
What to Do After Dental Implant Surgery
The success of your surgery largely depends on how you care for your mouth after the procedure. It is for this reason that you must study and practice proper post dental implant care.
On that note, know that the recovery process starts the moment the dental implant post is put in your mouth. In a phenomenon called osseointegration, your body generates new bone to connect with the artificial implant and support it.
Osseointegration typically takes a few months. While this process happens, you will have a temporary crown put in place to protect the implant. You’ll have this tooth-shaped cap on until the permanent crown can be cemented into place.
Temporary crowns are more delicate than their permanent counterparts, so you must take extra care of them. As much as possible, keep the surgery site dry and clean. Brush your teeth gently as well and avoid consuming hard foods for the time being.
You must also avoid any form of strenuous physical activity during the first few days after the procedure. Doing so can help speed up your recovery time and prevent other issues from developing.
Finally, be sure to show up for your follow-up appointments after the procedure. This is where your recovery will be checked to determine if you are ready to have the permanent crown installed. Depending on your condition, this may take 3 to 6 months.
How to Care for and Maintain Your Implant
There are some things that you must and must not do to help your implant fully heal, like the following:
- Quit smoking. Chemicals in tobacco products can impede osseointegration and keep your implants from healing properly. In the worst cases, they may make the surgery fail.
- Brush and floss your teeth—including your implants—regularly. Treat them as you would your natural teeth.
- Eat foods rich in protein. This macronutrient is necessary for building and repairing the tissues affected by the surgery.
Conclusion
Undergoing dental implant surgery is an effective way to restore your teeth. It can help you improve your appearance and regain your mouth’s normal function. However, there are things you must and must not do after the procedure to achieve the best results. Keep the pointers above in mind and you’ll be well on your way to a fast and successful recovery.
If you are looking for experts in dental implants in Ypsilanti, MI, you’ve come to the right place! At Dental House MI, our highly trained staff use the latest dental technologies to help you restore your teeth. Get in touch today to get your free consultation!
