What Are Implant Healing Caps?

Are you considering getting dental implants near you to replace your missing teeth? The dental implant procedure involves placing a metal post into the jawbone and attaching it with an abutment and a crown. Healing caps are used to ensure a smooth healing process. Visit our Arbor Falls Dental and Wellness for a dental implant consultation.

What Is a Healing Cap

Healing caps, also known as healing abutments, are placed to help the surrounding gum tissues recover after the procedure. They are small metal caps placed on top of the implant. Their primary purpose is to prevent the gums from growing over the dental implants. Once your gums have healed, the healing caps will be replaced with a permanent abutment that connects the implants to the crown. According to our dentist in Jackson, MI, how long one can wear a healing cap depends on the patient. However, it takes four to eight months for gum tissues around the cap to heal. Follow the dentists’ post-operative instructions to ensure a speedy and correct recovery.

Benefits Of Healing Caps

They act as sealants for your gums and prevent infections. Your gums or dental implants may get contaminated during the healing process. You are already at a higher risk of diseases, and implant healing caps are the strongest prevention.

They prevent other teeth from trying to push up against the implant. Healing caps will contour your gums and eliminate any pressure that could arise when the implant connects with other teeth. It also reduces the risk of implant failure and steers you from a painful experience.

Healing caps will provide a makeshift realistic tooth replacement to keep your gum growth in check. It will guide your gum tissue where it needs to be. Some patients experience dental implant failure due to improper gum growth or gum recession.

Procedure

Your dentist will administer a local anesthetic to numb your gums and place the dental implant into the jawbone. Next, the healing cap is placed on the titanium post. Depending on the situation, this may be done in one or two-step procedures.

Why You Might Not Get Implant Caps

Not everyone is a candidate for healing caps after a dental implant procedure. You may only be suitable for implant caps if your dental implant is stable and stable.

If you have stable dental implants, the implant dentist may get your dental crowns or implant dentures immediately. These can be temporary restorations, but they will apply pressure on the implants. For stable implants, this is good since it encourages healing. The gum tissue around your restorations gets to recover the same way it would with the healing cap.

However, the dentist may not want to risk using the healing caps for loose dental implants. If the healing caps are placed, the dental implants will receive incidental pressure from your tongue, food, and other things from your mouth. And if we are concerned about your implants will leave them beneath the gums. Then later, we may place the healing cap to help condition your gums.

In addition, if your gum growth can occur naturally without the help of healing caps, the dentist may decide not to place the caps. This decision may be based on the bone positioning, your gums’ state, and overall health. Discuss with your local dentist if you need clarification on what the best approach is.

Implant Healing Cap Aftercare Instructions

Once you’ve had your dental implants in Jackson, MI, the healing cap has been placed. You must follow aftercare instructions provided by dentists to stimulate a smooth healing process for more excellent long-term results. These aftercare tips include:

• If bleeding in the surgery site, gently place a gauze on it and firmly hold it for an hour. Avoid chewing, drinking, or talking while it’s in place. If you suspect you are bleeding more than usual, contact your dentist.

• Rinse your mouth with warm salty water after meals to eliminate food residues.

• Avoid foods and drinks with extreme temperatures for the next 72 hours.

• Do not take tobacco for at least a week if you are a user. This is because tobacco products could increase bleeding and affects the healing process.

• If swelling around your eyes or cheeks, use an ice pack at intervals of twenty minutes on and off to reduce it. In addition, propping your head up while lying down can reduce swelling and bleeding.