Dental implants are a good option for some people when they are missing a tooth or even several teeth.  The surgery though can be taxing so care must be taken during the recovery process to ensure that you minimize the pain and to take care of the area that has been operated on.

A dental implant is one method of many that a dentist can use to replace teeth when they are missing.  For instance, a bridge is used to replace teeth by anchoring the false teeth to good teeth surrounding the missing teeth.  A root canal replaces a tooth by attaching a false or cap on top of the root that is still good.  Dentures can replace all teeth or even just a portion of the teeth.

The dental implant is done by an oral surgeon or a trained dentist.   The dentist will surgically place a screw in the jaw to hold a false tooth in place.  The tooth becomes very secure by being anchored to the jaw and a very realistic tooth can be placed on the tooth.  However, the procedure is surgery and so care must be taken during the recovery process.

Here are five tips that you may find useful during the recovery process after having the implant procedure.

1.  Rest
Your body knows how to heal, but it will need the rest in order to facilitate the process.  You could go back to work and your regular schedule almost immediately after the surgery.  However, you will probably want to take some rest and relax for at least a day or longer depending on your health.

2.  Swelling and pain relief medication
You should get a prescription from your dentist and have it filled on the way home if necessary.  Often this can be one and the same medication.  You may want to take the medication on schedule even if you feel that the pain is bearable because the medication also helps the swelling.  Additionally, remember that you are taking medication for the pain relief so be careful not to over use the sensitive area even if you do not feel pain.

3.  Salt water rinses
Salt water rinses will help the healing process.  You should rinse three times a day with warm salt water (put a tsp. of salt in a cup of warm water, rinse-swish-spit) to reduce pain and swelling.

4.  Brushing
You must be careful when brushing.  You should always be gentle when brushing, but you must take extra care not to scrub the area too hard and pull the stitching out.  You should continue to make sure the area is clean though because bacteria will get in the area and you must gently brush to remove the bacteria.  The salt water rinses and brushing should take place at the same time in order to get the best results and it will help you remember to do both of them.

5.  Soft food diet
You will want to keep your diet to softer items such as yogurt and mush.  Be careful not to eat lots of sugared items like ice cream.  This will require more cleansing and it is difficult to get all of the sensitive areas with brushing.  You may want to ask your dentist for a list of items that is recommended for you to eat after surgery.  A good healthy diet will also help you recover faster because your body will have the nutrients necessary to facilitate the healing process.

In summary, the dental implant procedure is surgery and you will need to take care of your mouth during the healing process.  Make sure that you get the proper rest and food to help give your body the time to heal.  Also, you will want to make sure that you keep your mouth clean and continue to brush during the healing process.