Dental Implant Maintenance for Long-lasting Beauty and Oral Health

Are you about to get dental implants in Glendale, Arizona? You should be excited because dental implants replicate your natural teeth in almost every way, from appearance to function. And since a beautiful, functional smile elevates your confidence and appearance, you’ll be downright ecstatic about your dental implants. 

However, to harness the power of dental implants, you must take optimal care of your restorations, similar to the attention you give to natural teeth. Dr. Nima Afzalian of My Dental and Implants shares valuable dental care tips to maintain your implants’ longevity, functionality, and aesthetic appeal. 

Caring for dental implants right after surgery

A dental implant involves a surgical procedure to insert a titanium post in the jaw bone. Like any surgery, post-operative care must be followed to ensure an event-free recovery. 

Observe the tips below to maintain your dental implant after leaving our office.

• Avoid hot and cold drinks for at least 24 hours, and don’t eat anything until the anesthesia wears off
• Stick to the prescribed antibiotics and painkillers to manage infections and discomfort effectively. Talk to us if you suspect having a reaction to the medication
• Optimal oral hygiene is critical to your treatment’s success. Keep your mouth clean using the dentist’s recommended mouthwash (Stellalife Recovery Kit). Brush your teeth very gently with a soft brush, but don’t disturb the implant site. Instead, use a cotton bud and rub the area gently with the recommended oral rinse
• Don’t disturb the surgical site with your tongue or fingers
• Avoid alcohol and smoking until the implant site heals completely
• Rest for the first few days after surgery. Avoid strenuous exercises like heavy lifting, running, etc.
• Remember that pain and swelling will get worse before it gets better in the first three days. After the first three days, pain and swelling will get better and better
• Bruising is normal, but we have found that 30% Arnica cream will help bruising go away within a few days
• Soft food, no gums, no candies, no hard food. (only soup, mashed potatoes, noodles, rice, chicken broth, etc.)

When you observe the above tips, your healing should be smooth. However, contact us immediately if you experience increased fever, pain, swelling, or bleeding.

Before & After Results

Caring for dental implants in the long term

Like your natural teeth, caring for your implants after healing is a lifetime job. Fortunately, maintaining implants won’t disrupt your everyday life because it’s no different from caring for your teeth. 

Observe the care instructions below to maintain your implants for life.

• Brush twice and floss at least once daily. Be thorough enough to clean the area where the crown restoration meets with the gums
• Use Waterpik for optimal results and maintenance of your dental implants
• Use a medicated mouthwash as directed by the dentist
• Wear a custom-fitted mouthguard if you chronically grind your teeth
• Consider an athletic mouthguard if you are active in contact sports
• Visit a dentist every six months for dental check-ups and cleanings
• Quit smoking

As you can see, caring for implants is inexpensive and straightforward. If you have any questions about dental implant care in Glendale, Peoria, Phoenix, Surprise, and the surrounding cities, please call (623) 300-2550 or contact us online.

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