Dental implant is an excellent solution for people who have one or more missing teeth. Implant is surgically placed into the jawbone to support a replacement tooth or bridge. They may last for 20 years or more with proper care. Dental implants are made from durable materials like titanium. That’s why they are a long-lasting and effective solution for missing teeth. You can restore your smile and improve your oral health with dental implants. You have to visit a private dentist in Basingstoke for the placing of dental implants. However, many patients have question in their mind what to expect after getting dental implants.

What to expect after dental implants in Basingstoke?

Pain and Discomfort: After dental implant surgery, patients generally experience pain and discomfort. This pain can be managed with pain-killer medication prescribed by your dentist. In addition, one may also experience some swelling and bruising around the implant site. To reduce swelling you can apply ice pack to the affected area. Swelling around gum and face is also common after dental implants and may last for upto 5 days. In addition, for 1-2 days patient may also have bleeding. In case the pain persists for more than one week, then it is an indication of infection or implants failure. You should visit your dentist in this case.

 

Diet Restrictions: After dental implant surgery and upto two weeks, your dentist will recommend a soft food diet such as soup, smoothies, yogurt, pudding, ice-creams etc. This diet restriction is necessary for the success of dental implants and proper healing. Patients have to eat it to prevent damaging the implant site while it heals. Hard, crunchy, or sticky foods such as nuts, chips, raw vegetables, sticky candies etc. that can put pressure on the implant site or get stuck in the surgical area should be avoided strictly. In addition alcohol and smoking should be must be avoided completely after the one week of dental implant surgery as they can increase the risk of dental implants failure.

 

Oral Hygiene: To promote healing and to prevent infection, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene. Maintaining excellent oral hygiene is vital for the success of dental implants. To keep the implant site clean you should use a soft-bristled toothbrush and an antimicrobial mouthwash. Regularly rinse your mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash to make your mouth clean. Once the healing progresses, you should floss to clean the area between your teeth, without disturbing the implant site. Smoking and drinking alcohol can delay the healing process and increase the risk of infection, so patient should avoid that. Consistent oral hygiene practice will protect your implant and ensure longevity.

 

Follow-up Appointments: You need to visit the dentist regularly for some time after the implant surgery. In general the first appointment is scheduled within a week to assess the healing and check for the signs of infections. Dentist will monitor the healing process by inspecting the implant site and make sure the implant is integrating properly with the jawbone. To ensure the success of your dental implants, these visits are necessary.

 

Long-Term Care: Dental implants are a permanent solution for replacing missing teeth. They can easily last for a lifetime if proper care is taken. You have to practice good oral hygiene, such as brushing and flossing regularly, and visit a dentist every 6 months. In addition avoid using teeth as tools such as biting down on hard objects, ice, pens, or fingernails, which can damage the implant and surrounding teeth.

 

Complications: There are very less chances of Complications with dental implants. The potential complications are Infection, implant failure, and nerve damage. In case of any pain, swelling, or signs of infection, you should visit your dentist immediately.

Can I Use dental implants if I am already wearing invisalign?

Yes, you can get dental implants while undergoing Invisalign treatment, but you should consider your dentist as it requires the planning of timing and approach. Invisalign aligners can straighten your natural teeth without affecting dental implants, as implants remain fixed in the jawbone. Though it is being recommended in many cases that first you should complete the invisalign treatment for the proper alignment of your teeth and jaws. Later you can go for the dental implants treatment or your missing teeth.