If you’re here because you’ve recently received dental implants, congratulations on taking this important step toward restoring your smile. We hope your implants are giving you the look and function of natural teeth. If you’re exploring tooth replacement options in Jacksonville, NC, we’re glad you found us. Feel free to reach out via phone or our online contact form if you have any questions—we’re here to help!

If you’re ready to replace missing teeth, we would love to meet you at Family Comprehensive & Cosmetic Dentistry, the home of our implant dentists. From the time you walk in the door at our Dolphin Drive location, we hope you feel just how valuable our patients are to us, and we hope you feel like part of the family with our dentists and dental team.

A Bit About Dental Implants

Dental implants are often an integral part of a patient’s full mouth rehabilitation, and implants have become a top choice among adults looking for a permanent, natural-looking tooth replacement option. There are many types of dental implants, but regardless of what kind you have, the care instructions after placement of the implants are very much the same.

Dental implants allow our dentists to replace an entire arch of teeth with only four titanium implant posts in just one surgical procedure. We offer both All-on-4® Dental Implants and All-on-X® Dental Implants. Even if some of your teeth need to be extracted, you can have a brand new smile in one day with these types of dental implants. One massive advantage of these dental implants is that a bone graft is unnecessary, making this an affordable choice for many of our patients facing a full mouth reconstruction.

Traditional dental implants usually require more than four titanium posts to be implanted into the jawbone, but the aftercare instructions for these implants are the same as those for other dental implants in Jacksonville, NC.

Dental Implants Post Surgery Care

We will provide a copy of our after-care instructions, but here are the main factors to keep in mind as you consider the recovery process for dental implant surgery:

  • Even though you will feel like you want to spit, you cannot spit following dental implant surgery. Instead, you can use a tissue to wipe your mouth as needed, or you may swallow your saliva.
  • You cannot use a straw—ask your dental implant dentists how long you should avoid straws.
  • You can’t smoke anything on the day of your dental implant surgery.
  • Keep your fingers and tongue away from the surgical area; even if your hands are sanitized, keep them out of your mouth. You will just have to resist the urge to touch the surgical sites.
  • Get a lot of rest.
  • Do not work until you’re cleared.
  • Do not exercise until our dentists tell you it’s ok.
  • Eat and drink only the foods and beverages we have listed as safe.
  • Call our front desk if any bleeding persists.

Using a straw, spitting, smoking, and touching the surgical area can dislodge the blood clot that is forming, and bleeding will likely result. Smoking will lead to severe problems and can be disastrous to your health as you recover from implant surgery.

You should be aware of the following post-surgery occurrences:

Bleeding

Some minor bleeding is expected following your dental implant surgery, and it will usually stop in an hour or two after you get home. You’ll experience oozing for a few hours after the surgery, and you will have to keep gauze on the surgical area per our instructions.

Swelling

Swelling following surgery is common and may increase for 24–48 hours before it subsides. Facial bruising after dental implant surgery is an infrequent occurrence.

Diet

Avoid allowing food to touch the implant areas, and follow our diet instructions carefully. The sooner you heal, the sooner you can enjoy ALL the foods you love!

Oral hygiene

Brush and floss according to our instructions. Remember that soft, gentle brushing and flossing allow implant areas to heal.

Sutures

Your dissolvable sutures will be gone in four to eight days.

Medications

Take prescription medication as instructed, and call us if any post-surgery occurrences last longer than they should.

Dental Implants in Jacksonville, NC

We would love to have you here for a complimentary dental implant consultation. Then, if it seems you’d be a good candidate, we will do a thorough evaluation and exam to determine which, if any, of our dental implants would best restore the form and function of your teeth and smile. While dental implants require a time commitment, the result is highly worth the time put in because the result is a new you—a dazzling smile, improved confidence, and a new lease on life.

Learn More About the Dental Implant Process

If you want to learn more about dental implants or schedule your complimentary dental implant consultation, please contact our office by calling (910) 353-5171. You may also fill out our online contact form; one of our team members will reach out soon to help.