Guidelines on Food Choices After an Implant Surgery

Oral procedures for replacing missing teeth do not usually involve surgical measures. However, when getting dental implants in Columbia, a surgical process is involved. This unique tooth replacement alternative is, therefore, one that you must prepare amply for, before getting started.

For the most part, your dentist in Columbia will guide you on how you prepare for your treatment, and how to care for your mouth afterward. However, it always helps to prepare in advance by studying up.

What Are Dental Implants?

They are screw-like metal posts made of titanium material that are used to replace missing teeth. Technically, the metal posts replace the roots of teeth only. This means that you need another oral appliance to replace the crown part of your missing tooth.

The procedure of replacing your teeth using dental implants near you is unique and stands out from other tooth-replacement alternatives like dental bridges and dentures. However, implants work hand-in-hand with other restorative treatments for the complete restoration of missing teeth.

Process of Getting Dental Implants

1. Numbing – the area of the missing tooth is numbed with local anesthesia to make the treatment comfortable and painless. You will also need sedative medication to help keep you calm and relaxed throughout the procedure.
2. Opening the gum tissue – a small cut is made on your gum, at the site of the lost tooth. This incision exposes the jawbone underneath, which is the target for the entire implementation process.
3. Drilling – involves creating a tiny hole on your jawbone. The size of the hole is equated to the size of the metal post that will be placed.
4. Placing the implant – the screw-like metal post is carefully inserted and fitted in the drilled hole.
5. Securing the implant – once the implant is well positioned, it is well secured by sewing up the gum tissue. This will help hold the implant in place and allow your mouth to heal and recover.
6. Crowning – the implantation site is allowed a certain period to heal before any other procedure is performed. At this, your dentist will have taken impressions of your mouth around the implant site, to allow for the manufacture of an oral appliance that fits perfectly. Typically, this entails a dental crown. However, it depends will how many of your teeth have been replaced. For two or so teeth, a dental bridge is used. In other cases, patients require full mouth dental implants for complete procedures. This involves installing about 8 or so dental implants in the mouth and covering them with full or complete dentures.

Caring for Your Mouth After Surgery

Many things come into play when it comes to caring for your mouth after a surgical procedure. Depending on how many implants you get, the level of caution will differ. For the most part, it is important to ensure you rest amply to allow your body sufficient time to heal and recover. Other than that, the focus should be to alleviate pain and swelling and disallowing yourself from dislodging the blood clot every time it forms. An important area of focus, however, is food. What you eat will play a big role in your recovery process.

Food Choices After Implant Procedure

Your dentist will only give you a rough guideline on how to care for your mouth. When it comes to foods you should or should not eat, some guidelines are:

1. Avoid crunchy and hard foods – your mouth will feel sore for a couple of days after the surgery. Hard and crunchy foods like crisps, nuts, to mention a few, are likely to injure your mouth at the implant site.
2. Stick to soft foods soon after the surgery – from creamy soups and smoothies to yogurts and mashed potatoes, soft foods will be your go-to meal options. This applies especially during the first few days after your surgery.
3. Avoid sticky and chewy foods – including gums and candies. They may be what you crave, but they are not beneficial for your recovery. Besides, if you get temporary dental crowns, bridges, or dentures, they will be problematic when you eat sticky and chewy foods.

Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits – your body needs the strength and nutrients to heal quickly. Cut your fruits into small pieces, and eat cooked vegetables. Ensure to chew away from the surgical sites.