Our dental office is less than five minutes west of the intersection of I-30 and 360, just north of Hurricane Harbor and Six Flags. We’re also only minutes away from Peach Elementary and Nicholas Junior High School.
Dental implants are the best way to replace missing teeth because they work and look just like the real thing. However, receiving them is a significant commitment of time, effort, and finances, so there’s no doubt that you’ll want to do everything you can to be prepared for your upcoming dental implant surgery. Here’s a brief overview of some of the best things you can do to set your implants up for success.
Get Up to Speed with Excellent Oral Hygiene
One of the best things you can do to keep your dental implants in great shape for life is to practice excellent oral hygiene. Since dental implants only require the same cleaning routine as your natural teeth, you’ll need to get on board with a daily routine of brushing at least twice, flossing at least once, and using antibacterial mouthwash to eliminate food debris and harmful germs. Getting started with excellent oral hygiene before you receive dental implants can help them establish the sturdy foundation they need to last for decades.
Understand Your Post-Op Instructions Ahead of Time
Following your provider’s post-op instructions can make the difference between your dental implants failing and your new teeth lasting for life. Taking some time to become familiar with these directions before surgery can set you up for excellent compliance that leads to remarkable results. You can expect a few of the rules to include:
- Avoid strenuous activity for a few days after surgery
- Stick to a soft diet and avoid chewing over the surgical sites while your implants are healing.
- Avoid excessive rinsing and drinking through a straw.
- Avoid spicy, hot, sticky, or crunchy foods, as these can irritate the healing tissues.
Quit Smoking
Tobacco use in any form is one of the worst things you can do for your oral health. When you chew or smoke tobacco, your gums harden to protect themselves against the noxious chemicals it contains, exhausting them over time and causing them to recede. To make matters worse, nicotine causes blood vessels to constrict, making it harder for the body to fight infections like gum disease. These effects make it harder for the dental implants to form strong bonds with your jawbone and more likely for them to fail.
It’s best to quit smoking or chewing tobacco several weeks before receiving dental implants and to continue to abstain for several months afterward. It’s also worth asking, isn’t it a great idea to quit completely if you have to give these nasty habits up for so long anyway?
Preparation is key to ensuring that your dental implants last for as long as possible. Consulting with your dentist can determine the best ways to set yourself up to receive beautiful and long-lasting new teeth.
About the Author
Dr. Deepti Namineni earned her dental degree from the prestigious New York University School of Dentistry in 2012 and stays abreast of the latest developments in her field through continuing education courses. She is proud to serve the Arlington community by helping people maintain good health and pretty smiles. Her office offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as dental implant services. To learn more about preparing to receive dental implants, contact her office online or dial (682) 900-2616.