How Do You Care for Dental Implants?

Implant care begins immediately after placing your implants to help them integrate successfully into your jaw. Dr. Karapetian will give you detailed instructions for post-op implant care to expedite healing and recovery. Generally, we recommend the following:

• When brushing your teeth, avoid the implant site to give your implants a chance to heal.  
• Gently swish warm saltwater in your mouth to keep the area clean and free from infection. 
• Follow a liquid diet (but don’t use a straw!) for a few days and slowly progress to soft foods to avoid painful chewing. 
• Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption as these can impair your healing. 
• Rest as much as possible for the first few days. Avoid strenuous activities for at least a week to give your mouth time to heal. 

We’ll monitor your recovery through follow-up visits to ensure you’re healing properly. 

After a few days, you should notice a reduction in swelling, soreness, and discomfort. These are signs your implants are healing as they should. Within a few weeks, you should be brushing your teeth normally and eating solid foods again. Dr. Karapetian will cover the implants with temporary restorations to restore tooth functionality during osseointegration. We’ll also schedule follow-up visits to monitor this phase of your treatment carefully.