Dental Implant Recovery

Dental implants are a modern solution to replacing missing teeth and are extremely long-lasting. Dental implants promise durability and stability, providing the patient with a fully functional replacement for a missing tooth.

Unlike other alternatives such as dentures, dental implants can last a lifetime if cared for properly and have a natural aesthetic that blends in with your surrounding teeth. No one but your dentist will be able to tell it’s not one of your own teeth!

Dental implants are inserted via surgery where they are inserted into the jawbone. Post-surgery your dentist will provide you with in-depth information about how to take care of your implant and how/when to resume your day-to-day routine.

Keep reading for our tips on dental implant recovery…

Excellent Oral Hygiene

The most important part of dental implant recovery is maintaining an excellent oral hygiene immediately from the night of your surgery. At night, brush your teeth and gums with a very soft bristled toothbrush. Ensure you use small, gentle circular motions around the implants to prevent pain or bruising. You may experience a small amount of bleeding around the site of the implant, this is normal and can be eased with a salt water gargle.

Eat Soft Foods

After dental implant surgery your dentist may advise that your diet largely changes and you focus on consuming mostly liquids and pureed foods. To avoid damaging the implant site with sharp foods or getting food lodged in the dental implant, avoid foods such as meat and nuts.

Foods that are safe and comfortable for you to eat include: fruit juice, water, yoghurt, soup and pudding. Whilst you are having a much softer, liquid based diet it is important that you don’t skip meals and are eating enough calories.

Pain Relief

Just like other similar surgeries, you are likely to feel slight pain or discomfort after your surgery. Pain is at its most intense when the anaesthetic begins to wear off so it is recommended that you take painkillers before this happens to help manage the pain. If you experience pain after this period that becomes more severe, speak to your dentist who will advise you on further pain relief options.