Newly-fitted dental implants require quite a lot of care and attention to ensure that no complications occur as a result of their insertion, as well as to increase the chances of them fusing successfully with the bone underneath them. Below are two tips that you should keep in mind if you have just had a dental implant inserted.
Avoid vigorous activities for at least a few weeks
It is best to avoid participating in any vigorous activities for at least a few weeks (or even longer, if possible) after your dentist has placed an implant into your tooth socket. Vigorous activities include everything from contact sports that you normally do on a regular basis to occasional activities such as paintballing and skiing. The reason for this is as follows: for a month or so after your dentist has fitted your implant, the bone below the socket in which the implant has been placed will not yet have fully attached itself to this component. During this stage, when the implant is not completely stable, there is a significant risk of it detaching from the socket and falling out.
If for example, you decide to join your friends on their trip to a paintballing centre and you get hit in the lower half of your face by some paint, the impact of it could potentially dislodge the implant. In addition to putting you in a position where you have to ask your dentist to put in a new implant, the sudden dislodgement of this metal item could potentially lead to you either accidentally swallowing or inhaling it. In either case, you might end up having to make an urgent trip to a local hospital.
Don't get any tattoos in or around your mouth during the healing period
If you would love to get a tattoo on your inner lip or around your mouth, it would be best to wait a few months until your dentist confirms that your implant has fully attached to the bone that sits underneath it, before you get this tattoo work done.
The reason for this is as follows; when any type of skin tissue gets tattooed, there is a strong chance that the tissue in question will get infected. Any infection that forms within a few centimetres of your dental implant whilst the socket around the implant is still healing could interfere with this healing process (if the pathogenic bacteria spread into the socket) and cause your body to reject the implant, in which case you might then either have to get a new one inserted or get dentures instead.
Share23 September 2019
As you age, it can become harder to take care of your teeth. Motor challenges can make it hard to floss, while memory issues may make it easy to overlook brushing. Whether you are a senior looking for solutions to some of the common dental problems or a senior with specific questions about cavities or oral surgery, you have come to the right place. In this blog, I am going to touch on a range of topics related to seniors and oral health. This is the type of resource I wish my mum would have had access to in her senior years, and I hope you enjoy having access to it during yours. I appreciate you reading my posts.