Getting dental implants is a great experience for most people, but it is a process. There will be some time between getting your implants and having the teeth added on, and you need to know how to care for your gums during this time. Read on to learn what you need to know about your oral health while you're preparing for dental implants.
Tooth Extraction
Tooth extraction is often the first step for people who need implants. This is to remove a bad tooth or to remove remaining pieces of a tooth that was knocked out or destroyed.
After your teeth are extracted, you'll need some time for your gums to fully seal up and heal. During this time, your dentist will give you instructions to follow on your oral health. Make sure to follow them carefully so that you don't harm your gums. In most cases, gentle tooth brushing is used to clear any debris out of your gum pockets.
Implant Placement
Once the implants are in, you still have some time left before the teeth are added. For this time, the underlying implant will be in place, but no tooth will be mounted on top yet.
During this phase, you still need to take really good care of your gums. Your gums have to be healthy and seal tightly around the implant in order for the implant to be successful. So, plan on brushing your gums with a normal brush for the most part. You should also pick up an interdental brush to really get in there and brush around all the edges of your implants. Doing so will remove built-up plaque and bacteria that can irritate the gums and cause gum disease, which could result in the loss of the implants.
Final Teeth
Finally, the artificial teeth that complete your dental implants will be mounted on top as soon as your healing is complete. Once this is done, the easiest part of caring for your mouth begins. All you need to do is floss between your implants and brush them the way that you normally would with real teeth. That's it! Flossing keeps your gums healthy, and brushing does too. You won't need to worry about the risk of developing cavities anymore, but it's still important to maintain good oral health.
Taking care of dental implants doesn't have to be hard. If you're unsure on what to do or the best way to go about something on this list, make sure to ask your dentist for their advice.
Share19 July 2019
Toddlers should see a dentist for the first time by the age of twelve months or by the time their first tooth comes in. But if you are a parent with toddlers anything like mine, the prospect of going to the dentist (let alone anywhere!) can be pretty intimidating. My kids were a handful growing up. They had tantrums any time we would have to sit in a waiting room, and they refused to get in the dentist's chair during their first few visits. So, I had to employ a professional to help me make the transition to finally getting them in that dental chair without all the screaming and crying. I know I'm not the only parent in this situation, so I decided to share the information I've learned with others who can use a little help. You can find all my advice right here on these pages!