How to Care For Dental Implants

Losing a tooth is only fun for patients who are young enough to believe that the tooth fairy will exchange it for a dollar while they sleep. Adults who lose a permanent tooth due to decay, disease, or trauma to the mouth are often left feeling self-conscious about the appearance of their smile. Implants are becoming a popular choice to replace a missing tooth and give patients the smile they want, and deserve.

Implants have a 90 percent success rate and offer advantages such as increased comfort, easier eating, improved speech, durability, and convenience. Best of all, although the implant process requires several visits to the dentist and an oral surgeon, once it is complete, the implant doesn't require any additional care. Simply brush and floss daily and maintain regular visits to the dentist to ensure that your implant stays strong and healthy.

However, Dr. Don Jones of Social Circle Dental offers these tips to take care of your implant immediately following the surgical and restorative procedures.

Get lots of rest – While the implant surgery is pain-free, it is still surgery. You may feel like you can jump back into work and play, but you should take a day or two to let your mouth recover.

Salt water rinse – Rinsing with salt water speeds the healing process and helps to reduce pain and swelling. It takes only a teaspoon of salt added to a cup of warm water to rinse your mouth thoroughly.

Watch your diet – Following your surgery avoid hot, very cold, or sugary foods because your teeth may be sensitive. Try to eat a diet of soft items such as yogurt and pudding.

Be gentle – You will need to ensure that your implant stays clean and free from bacteria. Brush softly around the implant, taking care not to pull the stitches out. Brushing your teeth at the same time that you use the salt water rinse will make it easier to remember both steps and increases the effectiveness of both.

If you have a tooth that needs to be replaced, call Dr. Jones today to schedule a consultation. He will work with you to determine if an implant is the right option for you, answer any questions you may have, and get you on the path to a healthy and happy smile. Our office is conveniently located at 227 Brookstone Place, Social Circle, GA, 30025.
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