Recommendations for caring for dental implants after installation and during use

Implantation is a method of replacing lost teeth by installing an artificial titanium root (implant) into the jaw bone. With one-stage implantation, the crown is installed immediately after the introduction of the titanium rod, with two-stage implantation - after engraftment. We install Nobel Biocare implants, the patient receives a lifetime guarantee . But for the operation to go smoothly, you need to carefully prepare for it. And proper care from the moment of installation to the fixation of permanent dentures is a guarantee of successful implantation and good health of the patient.

Why is it important to care for dental implants?

Careful care of artificial teeth is important for the survival of titanium roots. After the implantation of the structures, a restructuring occurs in the bone tissue, and the body adapts to the presence of a foreign body. It is important that nothing interferes with the integration of the implant. Engraftment slows down due to chronic diseases, trophic disorders, and inflammatory changes.

Improper care after fixing the crown creates a risk of periodontal disease. Bacterial plaque accumulates in areas under the crown, which disrupts the balance of beneficial and harmful microflora in the mouth. When the latter predominates, inflammation develops. It passes from the gums to bone tissue with the development of periostitis or peri-implantitis. In these conditions, implant failure is likely.

Patients at risk need to be especially careful, since they have trophic or immune disorders even before the introduction of titanium roots. This negatively affects the healing of implants, slowing down the process. There is already a risk of rejection, but if hygiene rules are violated, it increases significantly. The risk group includes:

• pregnant women;
• patients with diabetes mellitus, low immunity;
• allergy sufferers;
• persons with alcohol, drug, or nicotine addiction;
• people exposed to chronic stress.

What to do in the first days after surgery

Rehabilitation begins immediately after installation of the implants and lasts 6-7 months until complete implantation. The first 2 weeks are the most important. As a result of the intervention, an open wound forms in the patient’s mouth, into which infection can easily penetrate. Do not place excessive stress on the artificial root or jaw.

How to avoid swelling

The cut gum tissue swells, which is considered normal. Swelling occurs 2-4 days after surgery and persists for several days. To prevent and reduce swelling, we recommend applying cold to the cheek for 5-10 minutes with 20-minute breaks during the first two days.

When implanting implants in the upper jaw or after a sinus lift, you need to cough, sneeze and blow your nose carefully, without opening your mouth wide, without puffing out your cheeks, and avoiding pneumatics inside the nose and sinuses.

Oral care

Hygienic care of implants in the first days involves exclusively rinsing with antiseptics prescribed by a doctor. The patient is allowed to brush his teeth with a new brush with soft or medium-hard bristles outside the implantation area. If a crown is installed immediately, the structure is cleaned with a soft brush, without pressure and without affecting the gums. An electric brush cannot be used after surgery, as it can easily damage the stitches. Due to vibration, the implants become loose and the structure may break.

Hygienic treatment is carried out twice a day and after meals. The following points are taken into account:

• Before removing the stitches, vigorous rinsing with antiseptics is prohibited;
• Only oral baths are allowed;
• Using dental floss or superfloss in between teeth.

Taking antibiotics and other drugs

It is important to strictly follow the doctor’s recommendations and follow the dosage regimen indicated in the leaflet:

• Antibiotics after implantation

  With meals, 1 tablet 2 times a day for a week. When using antibiotics, adhere to the prescribed dose, regimen and course of treatment. You cannot stop taking it before the due date. This can lead to complications.

• Medicine "Nimesil"

  2 powders 2 times a day after meals for 6 days. Painkillers are taken when it hurts. Powders are consumed after meals to reduce the risk of irritation of the gastrointestinal mucosa. You should not take painkillers more often than once every 6 hours (unless your doctor gives other recommendations).

• Antihistamines "Tavegil" or "Suprastin"

  1 tablet 2 times a day for 6 days. The drugs reduce the risk of allergies and swelling.

Lifestyle: general recommendations

After implantation, you should follow general recommendations that will protect you from negative consequences in relation to artificial teeth:

• Avoid physical activity and exercise for the first month after surgery.
• Avoid hypothermia and overheating, limit visits to saunas and baths, as well as swimming in cold water for at least 30 days.
• Do not drink alcohol and, if possible, give up cigarettes.
• Cough and sneeze carefully, especially if the upper jaw has been implanted with bone tissue augmentation - any stress or pressure changes are undesirable.

After the operation, the patient receives a package of “NB AFTER” medications for treatment at home.

Doctors at our Center instruct each patient after surgery and issue general and individual recommendations. You will find them in printed form in the “NB AFTER” box along with the prescribed medications.

Levin Dmitry Valerievich

Chief physician, Ph.D.

Nutrition rules

It is important to pay close attention to your diet. After surgery, it is not recommended to eat for 2 hours . As time passes, it is permissible to eat warm and soft foods and avoid spicy foods. List of recommendations:

• chew on the opposite side of the sutures;
• before eating, apply Solcoseryl dental adhesive paste to the seams;
• after eating, make oral baths for 2-3 minutes with a solution of “Chlorhexidine”;
• when implanting dental implants, do not eat solid foods that change the position of the restoration stimulators installed along the neck of the implant;
• Limit food that requires active chewing.

Do not use:

• solid foods (apples, cucumbers);
• fibrous meat;
• hot dishes;
• cold dishes;
• spices.

You need to eat soft, easily digestible food of uniform consistency. It is better not to consume berries and purees with crushed seeds.

Lifestyle

Immediately after implantation, the patient should not smoke or drink alcohol. Bad habits have a bad effect on trophic processes and the functioning of the immune system, and negatively affect osseointegration.

In the first days after surgery, it is advisable to sleep on your back or on the side opposite to the implantation site. After tissue fusion, this limitation is removed.

From the first days and during the first month after the operation, the following are prohibited:

• visits to a sauna or bathhouse, hypothermia - weaken the immune system;
• air travel - especially after implantation with simultaneous sinus lift;
• loads - you cannot lift weights, overexert yourself physically or mentally, light physical labor or exercise in the pool is allowed.

If there is pain

Painful sensations when swallowing and opening the mouth are considered normal after dental implantation. The intensity differs for each patient. We focus on the fact that moderate pain, which can be relieved with painkillers, can be considered normal.

You need to contact the coordinator or attending physician using your personal code through the 24-hour medical post service if, after taking the drug:

• the pain does not go away or gets worse;
• the bleeding from the wound does not stop;
• body temperature does not decrease for 2-3 days;
• the feeling of numbness persists for more than 4 hours.

The support contact number is printed on the advice sheet that we issue after implantation. Don't hesitate to call and ask any questions!

Implantation of 3 teeth, E.max ceramic crowns

Attending doctor

Strigin Vladimir Igorevich

Find out the price

Nutrition

When can you eat after implantation? The shortest period of fasting is until the anesthesia wears off. The general recommendation is to wait 3-4 hours

. Specific nutritional advice during post-implant rehabilitation may vary slightly depending on the protocol (minimally invasive or classic, immediate loading or not). However, the general principles are the same:

• give preference to warm food, food should not be too hot or cold;
• in the first days, avoid solid foods;
• avoid spicy, pickled, salty foods;
• make sure that the diet is of high quality and healthy;
• drink a lot of water ( 1.5-2 l
  ).

Approximate diet

Calcium is a building material for bones. Therefore, if you consume dairy products, focus on them.

• Cottage cheese, yoghurt, kefir, fermented baked milk and milk will help diversify your diet and avoid unnecessary stress on the implant.
• A baby food diet is ideal. It is subject to strict safety and nutritional requirements, so vegetable, fruit and meat (required!) purees will provide your diet with the necessary nutrients.
• Meat broths contain a lot of useful substances, including collagen - an important building material for tissues. In the first week, it is better to give preference to pureed soups.
• You can puree not only soups, but also vegetables and fruits.
• Porridge, milk, water, broth.

How long after you can eat solid food depends on the method of implantation.

When using the immediate loading protocol, you can transition to solid food much earlier, on the second day. Chewing load stimulates blood circulation and tissue regeneration

What is better to drink after dental implantation?

Water is the best choice. It not only replenishes fluid, but also removes residual elements of drugs from the body.

Herbal tea is also good. Provides fluid and calms nerves. The main thing is that it is not hot.

Fresh juices and smoothies will give you a boost of energy and a complex of microelements. Cold temperatures should be avoided here, so it's best to let the ingredients sit at room temperature rather than using them straight from the refrigerator.

How to care during the engraftment stage

A few days after implantation, the integration of the artificial root into the jawbone (engraftment) begins. Careful care is necessary, but measures are becoming less frequent.

After swelling disappears and acute inflammation stops, you can use a toothbrush. It must be soft and not scratch the gums, but touching the seams with it is still undesirable. It is important to clean between teeth after eating. To do this, use a brush or rinse aid.

For patients with complete edentia at the stage of implant healing, doctors recommend using a removable denture, which also needs to be looked after:

• must be rinsed with water after every meal
• brush daily with a soft toothbrush and special toothpaste
• Soak 2-3 times a week in a special solution to eliminate bacteria and preserve beauty.

With removable temporary dentures, the plastic saddle base should not put pressure on the sutures. If you feel pressure, you should not wear the prosthesis without correction! You need to contact us at the clinic. Swelling of the gums after surgery exacerbates the discrepancy between the crowns and the new gum contour. This is the norm, but requires correction.

Lifestyle

Our life consists of more than just diet and exercise. There are a lot of things planned for every day. Not everyone has the opportunity to go on vacation or take sick leave. What you definitely shouldn’t do is go to work immediately after installing the implant. Give your body time to recover, take a time out, at least for a few hours.

• Avoid extreme temperatures. Cancel the bathhouse, sauna or ice-hole jumping. It’s also better to postpone the pool for a month.
• You should not fly on an airplane during the first week. If a sinus lift was performed, it is better to postpone the flight for a month.
• During your recovery from upper dental implants, you need to be careful when coughing and sneezing. Try not to puff out your cheeks, open your mouth only slightly. Blowing your nose is not recommended at all, but if necessary, do it without effort or strain.
• This is a good time to quit smoking. You absolutely cannot smoke on the first day, and then you simply cannot. If you can’t bear it, after each cigarette you need to rinse your mouth with an antibacterial agent like Miramistin. Smoking slows down recovery after implant placement. The percentage of successful engraftment in smokers is also lower than in non-smokers.

Rules of care after installation of a crown or prosthesis

To clean orthopedic structures (crowns, bridges) on implants, you need to use a non-electric toothbrush, mouthwash, and an oral hygiene device - an irrigator.

Crowns

When restoring lost teeth, crowns can be installed immediately after implantation or after the implantation of an artificial root. Caring for the crown after surgery involves cleaning its surface with a soft brush. The base cannot be vigorously cleaned.

After the implants have healed, care comes down to brushing on all sides, especially in the area between the crown and the gum. This is where plaque and bacteria accumulate. Hygienic treatment is carried out twice a day. Dental floss cannot be used due to the risk of damaging the gums and exposing the titanium root, which can lead to rejection of the material.

Bridges

Orthopedic bridge structures are installed in case of complete or multiple edentia on several implants. Such dentures require more careful care. Superficial cleansing involves the use of a toothbrush and mouthwash. Dirt and food debris from the gums are removed using a monotuft brush or brush, or an irrigator.

Related articles:

• Guarantees of our Center
• Engraftment of implants
• Our advantages

What is prohibited when you have dentures on implants?

• use electric toothbrushes: vibrations can lead to disruption of the connection between the abutment and the crown and the intraosseous part of the implant. But not all loose structures can be “tightened” again. Since screws are not always used for fixation, there is also special cement - if it breaks, you will have to make a new crown,
• Eating too hot or cold food: ceramic crowns expand under hot water and contract under cold water. Therefore, try not to alternate these products (for example, drink ice cream with hot tea), this can lead to chipping of the crown coating. Also, sudden temperature fluctuations can prolong the healing time of gums,
• use regular dental floss: floss can damage the gums around the implant. They are not as sensitive as with living teeth, and you will not be as aware when you need to stop brushing due to lack of pain. Subsequently, through inflammation of the gums, bacteria can enter the tissue around the implant and lead to its rejection,
• professional teeth cleaning must be carried out with caution: be sure to warn your hygienist that you have implants installed, since in this case the hygienic procedure is carried out more carefully,
• eat foods that are too hard: crowns may break and implants may move if you bite off threads with your teeth, chew pencils, or crack open nuts.

Following simple recommendations and rules will make wearing dental implants (which last for decades) very comfortable and significantly extend the life of the dentures on them. With careful care, implants will not bother you for the rest of your life.

[1] Botticelli A.-T. Taking on experience. Guide to professional oral hygiene, 2013.

Author: Zhilenko E. A. (Thank you for your help in writing the article and the information provided)

Hygiene products at different stages

At each stage of dental restoration, the doctor gives the patient recommendations for care and treatment, recommends devices and gives instructions for use. You cannot ignore the advice of an implantologist, because the engraftment of titanium roots and the service life of the products may depend on this.

Toothbrush

The brush is used for basic cleaning of the oral cavity. Immediately after treatment, only soft brushes can be used. After the implants have healed, the use of medium-hard brushes is allowed. It is important to change the device regularly.

Toothpaste

The implantologist gives recommendations to the patient regarding toothpaste for caring for implants. It should have a soft, uniform consistency, reduce inflammation and fight bacteria. Conventional pastes are not suitable. Some of them are abrasive. They can damage the orthopedic structure. It is better to give preference to medicinal pastes.

Irrigator

The irrigator provides high-quality cleaning of the surface of the teeth, as well as interdental spaces, gum pockets, and the pores of the material from which the prosthesis is made. The device operates on mains power or battery power. The principle of operation is based on the supply of liquid under pressure, due to which it reaches hard-to-reach places. You can use the irrigator only after the implants have completely healed. Implantologists recommend cleaning the oral cavity with clean water, as well as special solutions. In addition to cleaning, the irrigator provides a light massage of soft tissues.

Cleaners

Brushes are small thin brushes of various shapes and lengths. They are designed for manual cleaning of hard-to-reach places (interdental spaces, the inside of the crown). There are cylindrical and cone-shaped brushes. The products are best used to clean the areas between the teeth, as well as the top of the implants at the point of contact with the gums. Curved brushes are suitable for cleaning the inside of bridges.

Dental floss

Flosses can be used only after the gums have completely healed, in consultation with your doctor. Regular dental floss can easily injure soft tissue, so after implantation it is better to use a series designed specifically for this. Such threads consist of a guide tip, sections of spongy and classic dental fiber. They are safe for soft tissues and easily penetrate even the narrowest areas between teeth. Suitable for cleaning the abutment and crown surface.

Frequency of scheduled control

The patient is required to regularly visit the implantologist from the moment the artificial root is placed. The visit schedule for each patient is individual, but the average time frame is as follows:

• 3 days after implantation

  The doctor assesses the patient’s condition, the intensity of inflammation, and, if necessary, prescribes medication

• 10-14 day

  The implantologist removes the sutures and assesses the quality of tissue regeneration

  Read also:  What to do if a fragment remains in the socket after tooth extraction?

• 4-6 months

  The doctor installs a gum former to make it look beautiful

• 7 months

  An implantologist installs an artificial crown

Recommendations for proper dental and oral hygiene immediately after implantation

After dental implantation, it is important to pay close attention to proper dental and oral hygiene. Regarding hygiene after installation of implants, we can give you the following recommendations:

• Do not touch the wound or sutures in the area of ​​installed implants with your tongue, much less with your hands. This way you can get an infection!
• You should not brush your teeth for the first four days after implantation. To ensure oral hygiene, rinsing with warm clean water is carried out in the first postoperative days;
• On the fifth day after installing the implants, you can start brushing your teeth, but it is extremely important to choose this tool correctly! The brush should have soft bristles that cannot injure the wound area or damage the stitches;
• After implantation, the implantologist should give you recommendations on the choice of paste. Usually, implantologists advise using soft herbal pastes that effectively work against gum inflammation.

IMPORTANT: We recommend that you change the brush after implantation by purchasing a new tool! Using an old brush after surgery to install implants is undesirable, since bacteria could accumulate on the bristles of the old brush, which could lead to the development of an inflammatory process.

When should you see a doctor outside of your plan?

After implantation of a titanium root, as well as for the entire life of the structure, the patient faces a risk of complications. Regular examinations allow you to identify early adverse signs and begin treatment. An unscheduled examination by a doctor is needed if:

• for no apparent reason the temperature rose, weakness, chills appeared;
• when touching the implantation area, discomfort and pain occur;
• there was a feeling of numbness;
• the temporal joint functions poorly (crunches, hurts, the mouth does not open);
• the prosthesis is damaged;
• the bridge or crown has moved;
• there is pain when chewing;
• gums are red and bleeding;
• there was an unpleasant odor from the mouth.

When you need urgent help from a dentist

• the stitches on the gums have come apart,
• swelling does not subside 4-5 days after surgery or appears again after normalization of the condition,
• the pain does not decrease after 3-4 days: you can contact the dentist earlier if the pain is unbearable,
• tissue numbness lasts longer than 7 days in a row,
• the gums are very inflamed, pus or an unpleasant odor appears,
• very high temperature (above 39 degrees), or its increase after normalization,
• it hurts to close your jaws (even very carefully),
• the prosthesis wobbles and shifts.

Precautions for patients with bad habits

Already a year after implantation, almost all restrictions on lifestyle and nutrition are lifted from the patient. It is important to remember that artificial teeth require careful treatment. It is necessary to monitor the state of personal health so as not to provoke rejection of titanium roots.

Stop smoking

Resins, combustion products, carcinogens, and other chemicals stain dentures, causing them to lose their aesthetic properties. Under the influence of nicotine, the production of saliva is disrupted, due to which the protective properties are reduced. For smokers, the risk of developing periodontal diseases is higher, since trophic processes in the tissues worsen.

After implantation, the patient should not smoke for 2 weeks (before the sutures are removed) so as not to slow down tissue regeneration. After complete healing, smoking is possible, but not advisable. If a person cannot give up a bad habit, he should reduce the number of cigarettes, switch to less harmful substitutes, and also improve oral hygiene.

Limit alcohol consumption

Alcohol negatively affects the immune system, and therefore increases the risk of implant rejection. In a state of alcoholic intoxication, the risk of damage to dentures increases (from hard food or during hygiene). There is a higher likelihood of severe injuries to the oral mucosa and jawbone (during a fall or fight).

Professional cleaning of implants at the dentist

Installed titanium rods require regular visits to the dentist . The specialist monitors the integrity of the system and the quality of hygiene. If necessary, removes plaque.

For professional cleaning of implants and prostheses, the Vector ultrasonic device is used . Its capabilities:

• removal of deposits;
• destruction of bacteria, toxins that cause oral diseases;
• treatment of periodontal disease.

The beam penetrates to a depth of 1.1 cm and acts on deposits indirectly. The cleaned areas are treated with a suspension of calcium hydroxyapatite. This helps reduce healing time, strengthens bone structures and prevents infection.

Vector cleaning does not injure teeth and gums and does not harm tooth enamel.

Possible complications if you do not follow the recommendations

Violation of the rules for caring for implants is fraught with peri-implantitis. This is an inflammation of the tissues surrounding the artificial root. Inflammatory changes affect soft tissues and bone, which can lead to implant rejection.

If an artificial rod is rejected, long treatment and complex measures to restore the bone are required.

Lack of hygiene provokes the accumulation of plaque on crowns, changes in their color, and deterioration in the aesthetics of a smile. Even professional cleaning cannot cope with stains and mechanical damage, so the orthopedic design has to be changed.

Possible complications

Failure to follow care recommendations leads to active growth of bacteria, damage to the mucosa and, in some cases, peri-implantitis.

Peri-implantitis is an inflammatory process in the tissues surrounding the installed implant. Affects bone and may lead to implant failure.

It usually manifests itself in the first three months after installation and is expressed by: noticeable discomfort in the intervention area and swelling.

Another reason to take care of artificial teeth is to maintain a beautiful appearance. The aesthetic side of a smile is an important argument in favor of prosthetics, therefore implants and dentures should be monitored from the moment they appear in the oral cavity. Remember, it is impossible to remove or bleach old stains even on an artificial surface - traces will still remain.

The doctor will be able to assess how well the implant is taking root. At first, going to the clinic should become a habit. The first examination is carried out a couple of days after the operation. The second, provided that the mucous membrane is restored normally, will take place in a few weeks. The third - about six months later. After this, you can return to the usual preventive schedule: once or twice a year.

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