At the culmination of surgery day at EvoDental, you’ll leave with your brand new smile!
Even, natural-looking, and giving you the stability to enjoy a wider and more varied diet, it can be a really exciting day for patients.
But, it’s important to understand that the aftercare for dental implants plays a major role in the overall success of the treatment. So you need to be mindful of caring for them properly.
How long is the recovery period?
The recovery period after dental implants begins on surgery day and can be quite different as the mouth heals and you get used to your prosthesis.
It can also be affected by personal factors, as some naturally heal faster than others or by environmental factors like smoking or some medications.
However, if you are ever unsure, you can always refer to your dental implants aftercare guidance, which will be given to you on surgery day.
For ease of understanding, this can generally be split into three distinct sections of time:
The days immediately after placement
For some, surgery day can bring a small amount of discomfort and tenderness once the anaesthetic wears off – it varies patient by patient.
If you are experiencing discomfort, you can use over-the-counter medications like paracetamol or ibuprofen to banish it.
In the first few days, it’s best to try and rest as much as possible so your body can focus its energy on healing your surgical incisions. It can help to take time off work or use holiday days if you can.
To ensure the site and the healing implant are unaffected, try to stick to very soft foods that require very little chewing, including thin soups, smoothies, and yoghurts.
The first week
Once the first few days after surgery are complete and you are a little more used to your prosthesis, you should try to focus on a nutritious diet – so your body has all of the good stuff it needs to help you heal.
This can include any food that can be easily cut with a fork, including:
- Soups, smoothies, broths, meal replacement drinks or milkshakes, and juices
- Porridge and other soft cereals
- Mashed foods – including potatoes and other vegetables
- Scrambled eggs and tofu
- Softer cheeses, meats, and fish
At this point, you should also be able to enjoy hot and cold drinks again without irritating the mouth but try to limit sugar and caffeine as these can affect your healing potential.
Plus, gently cleaning your teeth is encouraged, too, using a soft-bristled brush and extra care around the surgery site.
While it can seem a little nerve-wracking, a build-up of plaque bacteria at this time can be very damaging to both your implants and your oral health, so it’s essential you keep your mouth as clean as possible.
The second week and beyond
During the second week and beyond, you should now be feeling just like yourself and be carrying out all of your regular activities again, including going to work, exercising, and socialising with friends.
You may also be able to move on to a wider variety of foods, so your culinary horizons don’t seem so narrow anymore and eating out is a little easier.
Likewise, you’ll find brushing a little more comfortable as your surgical sites may have completely healed at this point. This is because the oral mucosa (skin in the mouth) has advanced healing properties compared to skin elsewhere on the body.
Finally, during this period you will also come back to your chosen EvoDental clinic for two essential aftercare reviews, at 6 weeks and 12-14 weeks.
- The 6-week review
This appointment will include an oral assessment to check your progress and healing.
At this time you can also ask any questions and we may give you further aftercare advice if you need it, based on the oral assessment.
The last step here is to give feedback on your fixed teeth (prosthesis). We’ll discuss the fit, feeling in your mouth, and also the aesthetics of your smile so any changes to your final set can be implemented by our in-house technicians in good time.
- The 12-14-week review
At this review, you’ll receive your final fixed teeth – personalised to fit you exactly, look natural, and spread the chewing pressure evenly across the whole jaw. To achieve this, we’ll have implemented the feedback from your week 6 review.
We’ll also give you your Evo Care Kit and talk you through how to use the tools within to keep your oral health in tip-top condition – something that will be essential as your healing journey ends.
From here, you should be back to normal meals, brushing confidently, and sharing your new smile with everyone you meet!
Stringent dental implants aftercare – the real key to success
Many factors can affect the success of implant treatment, namely poor aftercare for dental implants and the development of gum (periodontal) disease.
To avoid implant failure then, it is essential that you follow all advice carefully and not rush returning to solid meals.
However, the biggest factor of all is to choose a trusted full mouth dental implant provider – so ensure you shop around to find the right dental implant clinic for you .