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At Home Dental Care Can Help Prevent Treatment Failure

May 18, 2017
Dental health care professionals, including dentists and dental hygienists, work closely with each patient to help them understand the implant procedure, including the post-care instructions...

Post-Implant Treatment Success Depends on You

Patients who chose to correct certain dental issues with an implant procedure are usually striving to achieve a brilliant, beautiful smile. Dental health care professionals, including dentists and dental hygienists, work closely with each patient to help them understand the implant procedure, including the post-care instructions.

Similar to surgical procedures, you will need to take steps after the treatment to help ensure it heals easily and lasts for a long time. The success of an implant depends heavily on how healthy the surrounding tissue is. This means that if a patient allows the tissue around a new implant to accumulate harmful bacteria, it could affect the success of the implant. At Beaufils Dental, our dental hygienists understand the importance of clearly explaining your post-care recommendations and are available to answer any questions you may have regarding the procedure or after-care instructions.

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Tips For Post-Surgical Home Care

The steps that Dr. Beaufils recommends implant patients take to help ensure successful recoveries following their procedure are simple and easy to adhere to. We know how important it is to get the patient off to the right start immediately after their procedure, so we provide all patients with the following advice:

  • Stick to a diet of mostly soft foods and clear liquids. Water, soups, yogurts, mashed potatoes, and other soft foods will help with any discomfort. Avoiding sodas and dark colored liquids can help to avoid excessive exposure to sugars or staining liquids when your mouth is in a fragile state.
  • Take your antibiotics as prescribed by your dentist. If you were prescribed pain medication or given instructions for over-the-counter medicines, don’t ignore them. Take them as needed to help alleviate any lingering discomfort or residual pain.
  • Use an extra-soft toothbrush to brush your teeth during your regular dental routine (at least once a day). Avoid the surgical sites as much as possible to avoid putting any unnecessary strain on the implants. You should also avoid using any high-powered or electrical toothbrush for up to 2 weeks after the procedure.
  • Your dentist may recommend saltwater rinses or similar non-alcohol rinses up to twice a day. Follow these instructions to help clear out any lingering bacteria that may build up around the implant site.
  • Use low-abrasive toothpastes to prevent irritating the soft tissue around the implants. Certain toothpastes that contain stannous fluoride, sodium fluoride, or other harsh stain removing chemicals can scratch exposed surfaces or otherwise harm the delicate areas around the implant.
    • ColoSYS is an anticavity fluoride that is one of the least abrasive toothpastes available for purchase. It is designed to help protective tooth enamel as well as preserve dental work in the mouth.
    • Colgate Total is another excellent option as it is low on sodium fluoride. There are a variety of formulas available to help target various dental issues, including whitening and tartar control.

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You’re in Good Hands

Dr. Beaufils has performed countless dental implant procedures on patients throughout his many years of practicing dentistry. You can trust you are in good hands with him and his team of dedicated professionals. Dental implants are a common and relatively simple procedure, but they can change your entire quality of life! If you are considering undergoing a dental implant procedure, contact our office to schedule a consultation at Beaufils Dental today!