Heart Health: Don't Neglect Dental Care

If you've suffered from premature tooth loss, dental implants are the best way to replace your missing teeth. Dental implants are a permanent solution to tooth loss. Unlike dentures, your dental implants will be surgically implanted into your jaw. Once the procedure has been completed, your dentist will provide you with a full set of after-care instructions. It's important to note that there are some issues that may delay your recovery time. Here are four issues that could increase the time it takes for you to heal after your implant surgery.

Previous Infection

If your dental implants were needed as treatment for advanced gum disease, there may have been an underlying infection in your gums. If that's the case, your implants may require additional time to heal properly. You should keep your mouth as clean as possible during your recovery. If your dentist prescribes antibiotics for the infection, be sure to take the entire cycle as prescribed.

Certain Medical Conditions

If you suffer from certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, you should tell your dentist before having the procedure done. Diabetes can interfere with your body's ability to heal properly. Diabetes can cause blood vessels to narrow, which results in poor circulation. Unfortunately, poor circulation and blood flow will delay the healing process.

Plaque Deposits

If you have excessive plaque buildup around your teeth, you may need additional time to heal after your implant surgery. This is particularly true if you didn't have the plaque removed from your remaining teeth prior to surgery. While you're healing from your implant surgery, you'll need to keep your teeth as clean as possible. Ask your dentist about the proper type of toothbrush to use in order to remove plaque without aggressive brushing while your implants are healing. This will allow you to remove debris from between your teeth without causing injury to your gums.

Smoking

If you smoke, you should avoid it will you're recovering from your surgery. Smoking reduces blood flow, which can prevent vital oxygen from getting to your gums. Unfortunately, that can result in slower recovery time. To heal properly, you should talk to your dentist about a smoking cessation program prior to your surgery.

If you've decided to undergo dental implant surgery, there are some things you should know about the healing process. The information provided above will help you understand why your recovery time may be delayed. For further information, be sure to speak to your dentist about the procedure.