When you’ve either received or are in the process of receiving dental implants, the dentist does a lot of planning beforehand to make sure your implantation is successful. The last thing you want to happen is have your implant fail and causing complications later. However, it’s not only up to the dentist to make sure this doesn’t happen. Patient compliance is a must for complex procedures like dental implants in Inwood Village.
To make sure your treatment is a success, here are five steps to follow.
Follow All Recovery Instructions
Making sure you follow all of the dentist’s post-treatment instructions will not only ensure that your implants heal successfully, but that you don’t cause harm to yourself through your daily habits. For example, just like any oral surgery, it’s important to limit your diet to soft foods immediately after since your teeth and gums will be more sensitive. You should also be taking your antibiotics or other prescription medications that help you heal and manage any discomfort you’re experiencing.
Never Use Tobacco Products
It doesn’t matter what type of product you’re using, whether it’s cigarettes, chewing tobacco or shisha from a hookah, tobacco in all forms is detrimental to your oral health. In fact, it’s been proven to negatively affect the mouth’s ability to heal, therefore resulting in a higher chance of implant failure. If you want your implant to last, you’ll need to commit to discontinuing the use of all tobacco products, not just the ones that you may have previously enjoyed.
Manage Follow-Up Appointments
When your dental implant is placed, you’ll need to make follow-up appointments regardless in order to have the restoration attached, assuming you didn’t choose an immediate load implant. However, these appointments are also meant to ensure your implants are healing properly and integrating well with the existing bone in your jaw. If this process doesn’t occur correctly, the dentist needs to know about it, which is why follow-up appointments matter.
Maintain Your Oral Hygiene
In the beginning, you’ll need to be careful when brushing around your newly implanted tooth. While the implant and crown cannot decay like natural crowns and roots can, the gum tissue surrounding it is still vulnerable. That means it’s completely necessary to maintain your oral care habits. To prevent plaque buildup, brush twice a day with fluoridated toothpaste and floss at least once a day. Use mouthwash to clean the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth.
Commit to Regular Dental Appointments
Even after your implant has fully healed and functions well, you’ll still need to see the dentist regularly for routine examinations and cleanings. Of course, this is the only way to maintain your oral health completely, even if you never received implants. During these visits, the dentist will ensure that your surrounding gum tissue is healthy and provide treatment when necessary.
Ready to make sure your implant procedure is successful? Schedule an appointment with a dentist in Inwood Village today!
About the Author
Dr. Davina Prida earned her degree at Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, where she graduated with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS). She is a member of the Dallas County Dental Society, Texas Dental Association, American Dental Association, and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Dr. Prida is also a member of the Texas Army National Guard. One of her main focuses is creating beautiful Smiles. She ia a Top Dallas Dentist Providing High Quality Dental Care, General Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Implants, and Reconstructive Dentistry. Dr Davina Prida is fulfilling her vision of bringing the very best in cosmetic dentistry, reconstructive dentistry and general dentistry to Dallas at Inwood Village Dental. Dr. Prida’s approach of dental excellence and her use of advanced techniques, create the most natural, beautiful smiles possible. Dr. Prida is Dallas’ top cosmetic dentist, creating amazing smile makeovers with veneers, dental implants, dental crowns and bridges and Invisalign®. If you have questions about your dental treatment or dental care options, don’t hesitate to contact her at Inwood Village Dental or at (214) 352-2777.