If you have a missing tooth, or if you have a tooth that needs to be pulled, your dentist will go over a bunch of restorative options with you to help you fix the issue. Even though you may think that you'll be fine with a missing tooth, it can have serious ramifications. Specifically, a missing tooth can cause your teeth to shift and it can also cause the bone underneath the missing tooth to deteriorate. To avoid running into any of these problems, you will definitely want to look into all of your options, including dental implants. But what exactly are dental implants?
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants involve a two-step surgical procedure to help restore a missing tooth or multiple teeth. To start out, your dentist will surgically implant a metal post into your gums which will then need to heal for several months. The purpose of this post is to act as an anchor for a crown, but if your gums don't heal over the implant, then you won't be able to get a crown. To make sure that your mouth heals properly, this article will go over a few recovery tips.
1. Rinse the Incision Site
For the first few days or week after your implant has been placed, it's imperative that you clean the surgical site so that it doesn't get infected. To do this, you can usually rinse with a mild saltwater solution. To make this solution, mix 1/4 teaspoon of salt with some warm water. Then, gently rinse your mouth with it, focusing on the incision area. Also, make sure that you keep up with normal dental hygiene habits like brushing your teeth so that you don't get a bacterial infection.
2. Watch What You Eat
While your mouth is healing after surgery, you may also need to watch what you eat. For instance, foods that are hard to chew or are especially chewy may exacerbate the area and which will make it take longer to recover. Even though you won't have to eat a soft food diet, you should still try to watch what you eat.
Now that you know a little bit more about dental implants, you may want to consider them as an option for you. To learn a little bit more, contact your dentist and ask them to see if you are a suitable candidate for dental implants.
Share