5 Ways Dental Implants Can Change Your Life

It can be pretty upsetting when you lose a tooth, even more so if you spend thousands of dollars on replacing the tooth only to have the replacement break or fail. Dental implants are the best option if you want something that is going to last a lifetime if properly taken care of. Here are five ways that dental implants can change your life.

 

Natural

Dental implants look, and believe it or not, feel like a natural tooth. It can be very discouraging and embarrassing when you are missing teeth. Having dental implants can help bring back your confidence and leave you with a beautiful, complete smile.

 

Eating

If you have any teeth that are loose or missing it can make eating very difficult and painful. Dental implants actually help improve the quality of chewing – enhancing eating capability just like a natural tooth would.

 

Long-Lasting

Some replacement options such as bridges and partials don’t last very long until they break and you find yourself replacing the replacement.

 

Implants are integrated into the jaw bone and are made to last a lifetime if properly taken care of. They are known to be strong and durable and have a very high success rate.

 

Easy to Clean

Dental implants stand solo and do not affect the surrounding teeth. That means you can still floss on both sides of the implant and you can brush your teeth like you normally would, therefore being able to maintain the best oral hygiene possible.

 

Convenience

With a traditional denture, you have to remove them every night, and put them back in every morning. With dental implants, they become a part of you and most people claim to forget what tooth is actually the “fake” one.

 

Come visit Dr. Shawn Davis at the Oral and Facial Surgery Institute to find out if dental implants are right for you!

How To Take Care Of Your Dental Implants

We all know that losing a tooth can be a little frightening. Luckily with today’s technology, a dental implant is the closest thing to a natural tooth. Just like with any surgery there can be complications or in this case “failed” implants. Taking proper care of your implants post-surgery is essential for proper healing.

 

Soft Foods

Following surgery, you will want to avoid chewing on the side of the mouth that the implant is on. If you happen to have multiple implants in different areas of the mouth, you will want to stick to a soft diet for a minimum of two weeks.

 

Foods such as yogurt, smoothies, mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, and most pastas are good options for post-operative care.

 

Micromovement is critical to avoid during the healing process. It can be caused by a variety of things such as chewing directly on the implant and aggressive brushing.

 

Good Oral Hygiene

Contamination and bacteria can cause your implant to fail. Keeping it clean is very important. Right after implant placement, your surgeon will prescribe you with an oral rinse that has antibacterial properties. You will want to clean it twice a day by dipping a q-tip into the oral rinse and cleaning around the implant and gums.

 

Once you get the okay from your doctor, you can start lightly brushing the implant with your toothbrush. You will want to wait a couple of weeks to do so due to tenderness.

 

Take an Antibiotic

While infection risk is low if the implants are properly taken care of, taking an antibiotic after surgery will help further prevent any type of infection.

 

Please recognize that antibiotics can interfere with other types of medications. Ask Dr. Davis if you have any questions on conflicting medications.

 

Limit Physical Activity

You will want to limit your physical activity for the first few days to avoid any type of bleeding or throbbing.

 

Dental implants are a phenomenal choice for tooth restoration. Consider implants the same thing as your natural tooth, they require the same amount of brushing and flossing as well as regular check-ups.

 

Call us at the Oral and Facial Surgery Institute to schedule your consultation to see if you would be a good candidate for dental implants! (435) 220-3101