It’s vital that you don’t brush your implant until you’ve had your stitches removed. You can brush your teeth gently, avoiding the implant site as best you can. After 2 weeks, with the removal of the stitches, you can brush the implant with antiseptic gel and a soft brush. All cleaning devices used on your implant must be plastic, as metal may scratch the surface of the implant.
For the first week after having your implants fitted, we recommend that you eat only soft foods. Your clinician can give a diet sheet to ensure you’re eating soft but nutritious foods. You want to avoid anything that might get stuck in your teeth like seeds or popcorn. If these get into the implant site, it could cause an infection. Once your implant is fully healed, you’ll be able to eat all your favourite foods again and treat it as a normal tooth.
It’s normal for you to have some pain, swelling and bruising after implant surgery. This can be reduced with the help of over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen (use according to dosage instructions). It’s also possible that the area may bleed; this is nothing to worry about. If this cannot be stopped with light pressure, contact us as soon as possible.
After your implant has been fitted, we will arrange periodic review appointments to ensure the procedure has gone smoothly and that you haven’t developed an infection. If you have any concerns or you think you might have an infection in the implant site, you should always contact us as soon as you can.
If you’re a smoker, we will have advised you give up before you have your implant fitted. Research has shown that the rate of implant failure is much higher for those who smoke than those who don’t1.
Once your implant is healed, it’s important to keep up with impeccable oral health to ensure you get the maximum longevity from your dental implant. You should make sure you brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly. We recommended you see the hygienist frequently to have a thorough scale and polish.
1 Kasat, V., & Ladda, R. (2012). Smoking and dental implants. Journal of International Society of Preventive & Community Dentistry, 2(2), 38-41.
