While patients often ask what dental implants are, why they’re beneficial, or how long they’ll last, one of the most important questions and parts of the dental implant procedure happens directly afterward. The post-treatment care process is incredibly important and can lead to greater success rates.
As is the case with nearly any treatment, healing times vary dramatically between patients. Some patients require additional procedures, such as grafting, while others have almost no complications, whatsoever. In general, patients can expect the healing process to last around 2-4 months.
How to Care for Your Implants
Even though dental implants can’t get cavities like our natural teeth, inflammation and infection can occur if high-quality oral hygiene is not performed frequently. This is known as peri-implantitis, which is diagnosed as “the destructive inflammatory process affecting the soft and hard tissues surrounding dental implants.” Some patients use special tools and training from our dental hygienists to keep inflammation from occurring, and additional post-observation checkups may be necessary, in some cases.
During these checkups, we’ll take additional x-rays to check the level of bone around your implants. From time to time, the screws or the abutments in the implants may come loose. If this happens, our team will remove and clean the restoration and set it back into the proper place.
If you have any questions about your dental implants or if you would like to schedule a free consultation, please contact our team or make an appointment. Our incredible staff will give you the best dental care possible.