Dental Implants: Preparing For The Procedure

Dental implants are becoming very popular as an alternative to traditional dentures. As opposed to a set of replacement teeth that can be removed at will, they are fixed into your gumline (sometimes drilled straight into the jaw bone), making them act and look much more like your regular teeth. Patients who fear that dentures may be too much hassle and are sensitive to the gagging effect they sometimes have may find themselves much happier with implants. Of course, the surgery itself and the process of putting them in is somewhat complicated and lengthy. Here are some things you can do to prepare.

One of the first things you should do to prepare for your dental implants is to cease the use of any and all tobacco products or nicotine. Your dentist may or may not tell you this, but nicotine is actually a leading cause for surgical complications. This isn’t just true of oral health surgery, but surgery of any kind. It prevents blood from flowing as freely as it should, meaning that your incisions may take extra time to heal. This may not sound like a big deal, but it could greatly increase the chance of infections and the chance of the implants failing altogether. If you want to be on the safe side, just put them down. Your surgery’s risks will be reduced and your overall health will greatly improve.

Your dentist will provide your with specific instructions, but it is usually a good idea to stop eating or drinking anything at least five or six hours before you go in for your operation. Chances are slim that it would come to anything serious if you did, but it could add to the risks. Also, anesthesia has a way of making some people very nauseous, which can lead to a great deal of sickness if you have a full stomach. Better to simply wait until after your procedure to have something to eat (although your food options may be somewhat limited for a little while). 

Remember that sedation is part of getting dental implants, so you’ll need someone to take you to your appointment and drive you home after you’ve finished. In a best case scenario, you should arrange for someone to stay with you until you’re done and have someone who can watch over you for a little while after your home, just to make sure you don’t have any reactions. Plus, you have someone to rely on if you need something during the time period when you should be resting.