Who can have dental implants? Before, during recovery and after surgery

Dental implants have emerged to meet the need to give patients back a healthy smile. However, dental implants are surgeries and as such must be carried out by doctors who specialise in oral surgery and dental implants.
In order for this treatment to be successful and restore all of the patient’s chewing and oral aesthetic functions, there are certain precautions that must be taken into account.

Who can have dental implants fitted?
In the vast majority of patients, the placing of a dental implant is possible. However, if the patient suffers from any oral pathology, this can make it impossible to place the implant until it has been properly treated.
Similarly, in situations where patients do not have enough bone for the implant to be fixed, it is necessary to perform a bone graft before the implant placement surgery.
All the dental implant operations in our clinic (Azores Medical) are only carried out when it is possible to guarantee that the process will take place with total safety and comfort for the patient.

Care during recovery from dental implant surgery
A good recovery after surgery is fundamental not only to speed up the duration of the surgery, but also for the durability of the treatment.
In cases in which a temporary dental prosthesis is placed, after the surgical phase, the healing process continues so that the definitive crowns can be placed at a later date. This healing process is usually short, but some preventive measures should be taken to ensure that it takes place as safely and quickly as possible:
– Do not ingest hot food or drinks at least one to two hours after the placement of the temporary prosthesis;
– Do not eat sticky food (e.g. chewing gum) and avoid food that is too hard (if you do, chew it with the side opposite to the one involved);
– Use a brush with soft bristles;
– Use dental floss daily, although with relative care in the implant area;
– In case of hypersensitivity in the gum tissue, consult your dentist to be informed about how you should proceed.

After the definitive dental implants have been placed, what care should be taken?
After the implementation of the permanent crown, patients who have undergone this procedure should care for their new teeth as if they were natural teeth. In other words, you should carry out good oral hygiene on a daily basis and visit your dentist regularly (advisably every 6 months).

The advantages of dental implants are countless! If you are missing one or more teeth and would like to restore your smile, please contact us!