If you are scheduled to get dental implants – congratulations!  This amazing procedure will give you the ability to eat all of your favorite foods, have a beautiful and natural looking smile, and engage in all of your favorite activities. This is by far the most durable way to replace a missing tooth since a new root system is created, and the synthetic tooth will be secured into place by being attached to a metal post.  Once the procedure is done, you can go about your life without worrying about whether your replacement tooth will fall out or become loose, making this procedure ideal for people with active lifestyles.

Keep in mind that this procedure has a surgical element where the metal post is implanted under the gum line and secured to the jawbone.  This must be done because it is how the new tooth is held in place.  Through the course of several months, the process of osseointegration will take place, and the metal post and jawbone will fuse together.  This is the longest aspect of the procedure, but it is incredibly important because the jawbone will end up holding the new tooth in place without the assistance of the surrounding teeth.

After the dental implants (metal posts) have been placed under the gums, your gums will be sore for a few days.  There may be some bleeding and swelling, as well.  It is important to follow a care routine to make sure that you recover quickly and that your gums heal as they should.  Make sure that you avoid anything that could cause your implants to be pulled or pushed out of place while they are healing.

Here are the tips we recommend.

• Stop the bleeding.  If your gums are bleeding, use gauze for the first 24 hours.  If this is not helping, try a moist tea bag instead.  The bleeding won’t last long, and if you have any concerns, you can call our office.
• Apply cold.  Use an icepack or cold compress on your face and jaw in order to reduce swelling and alleviate the pain.  We recommend doing fifteen minutes at a time and make sure that the ice is covered, so you don’t irritate your skin.
• Pain medication.  We will prescribe pain medication that can be used after the dental implants procedure.  Take it as directed in order to stay on top of the pain so that you can feel comfortable during your recovery.
• Foods to eat.  For a week, or more, after the procedure you need to eat a diet of soft foods.  This can be yogurt, pudding, Jell-O, applesauce, oatmeal, steamed veggies, rice, and anything else that is soft and won’t irritate your gums.  After the first week, we will let you know what is safe to eat based on how your gums are healing.

Dental implants are an excellent way to replace a missing tooth because after the healing process and osseointegration is complete, we will secure your new tooth to the metal post and you will be able to play sports, eat caramel apples, and any other activity without worrying about your new tooth becoming loose.