Getting Rid of Gum Disease

Most people breeze through dental implant surgery without any unusual events, however, there are a number of aftercare strategies they need to follow to ensure proper healing. Your implant dentist will give you post-operative instructions for when you get home to ensure complications do not arise. Here are some things you should do after your implant surgery so that your surgical sites heal as they should:

Manage Bleeding

Your implant dentist will provide you with small gauze squares to use in the event of a bleeding episode. If one of your surgical sites starts bleeding, fold the gauze in half and wet it. Then, place it over the surgical site and bite down gently.

If the gauze becomes saturated with blood or clear fluid, remove it and apply a fresh one. Do this until the bleeding stops, however, if the bleeding fails to slow, call your dentist right away. Also, do not get alarmed if bleeding persists a day or two after your surgery. This is completely normal and does not signify a complication. When the bleeding stops do not use the gauze anymore because doing so may aggravate your surgical sites. Also, it is common to have dissolving stitches after dental implant surgery and they should not be disturbed excessively with gauze or otherwise.

Oral Hygiene

It is important to maintain a meticulous routine of oral hygiene after your dental implant procedure. On the day after your implant surgery, gently brush your teeth, but do not disturb the surgical areas. Also, never attempt to floss between your dental implants unless instructed to do so by your oral surgeon. Doing so may irritate sensitive gum tissue, leading to heavy bleeding and tissue abrasions.

Your dentist will probably give your an oral rinse to use a few times a day, however, saltwater rinses may also be used. Rinse your mouth with saltwater after every meal, however, do not swish too vigorously, as this can disturb your sutures. Saltwater eases discomfort, decreases inflammation, and helps reduce your risk for a bacterial infection. Keeping your oral cavity clean is essential because food particles can lodge in the implanted areas and cause irritation or infection. 

If you are anticipating dental implant surgery, follow your dentist's instructions carefully and consider the above interventions. When you follow your post-operative instructions, you will be less likely to experience complications such as abnormal bleeding. suture disruption, discomfort, or infection. Contact a dentist to get more information.