Following implant surgery you will receive verbal aftercare instruction from the surgeon on how to care for your implants (you will also receive a written sheet as well). To ensure successful osseointegration of the implants, it is essential that these instructions are followed stringently.
The practice will help you ensure that the implants heal in the correct manor by reducing the chances of infection; this is achieved by providing you with a hygiene treatment prior to surgery and prescribing antibiotics after surgery, however it is the patients' personal oral hygiene and diet that will play a major factor in the success integration of the implants.
Patients can do the following to help the implants heal:
- Avoid rinsing and touching the implanted area for the first 24 hours after surgery.
- Rinsing your mouth with lukewarm water after each meal.
- Brushing your teeth twice a day.
- Avoiding dairy products for 7 days
- Taking calcium tablets to help prevent oedema.
- Eating a diet which contains soft food such as soups and pasta
Post op checks up are essential following implant surgery. The first checkup is usually 2 weeks after the implant has been placed, by this time any swelling would have disappeared and any incisions made would have healed. During this appointment the dentist will remove the stitches and assess how the implants are healing, if necessary the dentist will provide additional cleaning instructions.
Annual check-ups are also vital to the long-term success of the implants. At the yearly check the dentist will examine all your teeth, implants, gum and jaw bones to make sure there are no infections, diseases or decay which could jeopardize the implants and your general oral health. It is vital that patients attend their yearly check-ups as this constitutes part of their implant guarantee.
