How Can You Reduce The Risks Of Infections With Dental Implants?
Dental implants can be a miracle for some people who are missing one or several teeth and want natural looking replacements. And while most dental implants remain strong and functional for many years, there are some risks associated with the devices that include infections. Minimizing your infection risks is important so keep reading to learn a lit bit about how to do this.
Follow Your Doctor's Orders
Infection risks are the highest right after the dental implant surgery. However, they can easily be avoided if you simply listen to your dental professional's instructions for aftercare. If you listen to your dentist, then infection risks can be reduced substantially, and most dentists actually report very few actual infections after dental implant placement due to their rate of patient compliance.
So, what exactly do you need to do after your operation? Well, you need to continue with your antibiotic regimen whether you are starting your medication now or continuing to take pills that have been provided to you as a prophylaxis. Also, you want to take all the medicine as directed, which typically includes taking all pills and avoiding the use of alcohol.
You will be given a special antibiotic rinse that must be used once or twice a day, and you will be instructed on how to gently clean around the implant until it has healed to some degree. You may be advised to take anti-inflammatory drugs too, even if you do not think you are experiencing a great deal of discomfort. Reducing the inflammation helps to encourage blood flow that is unaffected by swollen tissues.
See Your Dentist Often
While it can be easy to avoid the onset of infections directly after the placement of the dental implant, you will also need to be vigilant for years to avoid one developing at a later date. This means brushing and flossing daily, using your rinses, and checking for signs of redness around the gum tissues. You also need to see your dentist often, even if you do not see anything concerning.
Dental visits will allow the professional to visually inspect the implant through the use of x-ray technology and general examination. The dentist can then identify things like gingivitis, nearby tooth infections, and the formation of deep gum pockets that can contribute to dental implant infection.
Speak to your dentist about dental visits and how often they should be scheduled. Typically, the dentist will like to see you every six months if you are not experiencing any issues with the implant.
Share