Tips for Recovering From a Dental Implant Surgery
Dental implants in Fort Pierce are hailed as the gold standard for replacing missing teeth because of their impressive durability, longevity, and their remarkable likeness to natural teeth. The procedure involves skillfully inserting titanium screw-shaped implants into your jawbone to function as anchors for your artificial teeth.
Although it’s a minimally invasive procedure, recovery can take a while. The good news is you can breeze through it if you follow your dentist’s postoperative instructions.
How to Recover Quickly After Dental Implant Surgery
Swelling and Discomfort
Swelling and discomfort are expected following surgery. These symptoms can last up to five to seven days. You can minimize the swelling by applying an ice pack on the side of your affected face where the implants were placed.
Apply the ice pack for 20 minutes with ten-minute breaks in between. As for discomfort, you can reduce the pain by taking over-the-counter painkillers. Do not take aspirin, as this can promote bleeding.
Soft Diet
You need to make adjustments to your diet after the surgery. Dentists recommend following a soft diet for several days. Avoid hard, chewy, crunchy, hot, and spicy foods. Plan your meals and fill your fridge and pantry with healthy and nutritious foods. Soft foods include smoothies, yogurt, soups, and mashed potatoes. You can gradually add solid foods to your diet as your mouth heals.
Oral Hygiene
It may seem scary, but you need to return to your oral hygiene routine after the surgery. However, you must avoid brushing and flossing around the implant site for a few days until your dentist says so. You may also be asked to use an antibacterial mouthwash for prophylaxis.
Rest
Since your body was under stress during the surgery, you’ll need plenty of rest to recover. Rest means avoiding strenuous activities such as exercise for at least a week. Get enough sleep so your body can heal.
Follow-Up Appointments
Your dentist will schedule follow-up appointments to check your progress and ensure your implant is healing correctly. It is essential to keep these appointments to ensure that your implant is fully integrated into your jawbone.
Need More Recovery Tips About Dental Implants in Fort Pierce?
Dental implant surgery can be a simple and effective solution for missing teeth, but recovery requires patience and care. Our friendly and knowledgeable team at Ricard Family Dentistry will share helpful tips to help you recover quickly. Contact us for a consultation.