Signs You Need To See Your Dentist For Your Dental Implants
Getting dental implants can greatly affect your oral health in positive ways. When you get these implants, they are permanently affixed to your jawbone and are fashioned of ceramic or porcelain to resemble the rest of your teeth. With proper care, your implants can last indefinitely, allowing you to have the beautiful smile you have always wanted. When you have concerns or issues with your dental implants, you need to see your dentist right away. Here are signs something may be wrong with your implants that indicate you need to see your dentist quickly.
Pain in your jaw
You can expect a reasonable amount of tolerable pain or discomfort in the weeks following having your dental implants placed, which fades as soon as your gum tissue heals around your jaw bone. If you notice sudden pain or a deep ache in your jaw where your implants were placed after the initial healing process has ended, then your implants may have shifted, or a food particle may have crept under the healing tissue and caused discomfort. Your dentist can take new X-rays of your mouth to try to pinpoint the cause of your sudden aches.
Gum infection
Swelling; bright red, purple, or black areas; a foul odor in your mouth; or bleeding in your gums can all be signs of a gum infection. A gum infection is dangerous not just to your dental implants and how they are secured to your jaw, but it can also affect the rest of your natural teeth. If you have a history of gum disease, you especially need to alert your dentist to your gum pain. Brushing your teeth, flossing, and using a mouthwash regularly can reduce your chances of getting gum disease. Your dentist can prescribe you special toothpaste or mouthwash to help you keep your mouth clean.
Fever/sinus infection
If you are fevered in the weeks following your dental implant procedure or you notice pressure or swelling under your eyes or in your cheek area, then you may have a sinus infection. The infection may not be related to the dental work you've had done, but it can affect the health of your recently opened gum tissue. Just as you would want a regular infection elsewhere on your body checked out by a doctor, you will want a sinus infection or fever (which is a warning sign of infection) inspected by your dentist so you can get antibiotics to help you heal and protect your gums and teeth.
For more information, contact a dental office like Cazes Family Dentistry LLC.
