Dentures and Dentist

Managing Dental Implants Side Effects: Post-Treatment Care and Maintenance Tips

5 October 2016

Julian Andrews

The treatment plan for dental implants includes a surgical procedure that enables the surgeon to place the implants into the jaw bone. Just like any other surgical dental procedure, there are side effects that may be experienced during and after the treatment period. These include pain and discomfort on the gum and tissues surrounding the implant.

Aside from experiencing pain, dental implants can fail during or after treatment because of poor oral hygiene and exposure to certain factors. How do you alleviate the pain and care for your implants to ensure complete healing? Here are some of the measures you can take to care for your implants after treatment and increase their chances of success.

Take your medication religiously

Your dental implants surgeon will most likely prescribe some pain medication and antibiotics during and after the dental implants treatment. Taking these medications as prescribed is crucial to the healing process. As far as the antibiotics are concerned, their primary role is to prevent the occurrence of an infection after the surgery. Infections are among the primary causes of failure in dental implanting treatment. They can also lead to excruciating pain and severe headaches.

Your dentist may also recommend DIY treatments such as rinsing your mouth with warm salty water to alleviate the pain. Observe such recommendations for a smooth recovery.

Avoid smoking

Generally, smoking is bad for your respiratory and overall body health. However, if you love the occasional cigar or tobacco roll, the period after your dental implants procedure is not the best time to smoke. What smoke does is that it slowly kills the body cells, and this includes the cells surrounding your jaw bone and gum tissue. When the cells begin to deteriorate, they may be unable to facilitate the fusion of the implants and the bone, and this will lead to implant failure.

Smoking can also lead to an infection, which will further increase the chances of implant failure. Ensure that you stay away from cigars if you want to have a smooth and successful recovery period.

Practice good oral hygiene

Oral hygiene should be maintained even after having dental restorations. Although bacteria may not invade your implants and cause decay, they can affect the remaining natural teeth as well as the gums. For instance, if you end up suffering from gum disease after the procedure, your gums may swell or recede, and this will affect the recovery of the implants. Proper oral hygiene including daily brushing, flossing, and regular visits to the dentist for check-up should be practiced even after recovery.

These practices will help in promoting the success of your dental implants after the treatment and promoting your overall dental health. Consult with your dentist on any health or behavioral concerns you may have that may inhibit the recovery process.

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