Health – Dr Nidhi Kantharia Gupta

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Aftercare Of Dental Implant Procedure: A Complete Guide

In this blog, we will cover everything you need to know about the aftercare of dental implants, from initial post-surgery instructions to long-term maintenance tips.
✨ Let’s dive in!✨

👉Why Is Aftercare Important?👈

💫Aftercare is crucial to the success of your dental implant procedure. Without proper care, you risk complications like infection, implant failure, or delayed healing.
💫Following the aftercare instructions given by your dentist ensures that your dental implants heal correctly, integrate into your bone, and remain functional for years to come.

🌟Here is a simple and helpful guide on Habits and Activities you should avoid after dental implantation.🌟

👉1. Avoid Touching or Disturbing the Surgical Area

✪ Your implant site needs time to heal. Touching the area with your fingers or tongue may introduce bacteria and cause irritation.

✪Let the clot and tissues settle naturally.

👉2. Don’t Spit Forcefully or Use a Straw

✪Suction created by spitting or drinking through a straw can dislodge the blood clot, leading to bleeding or delayed healing.

✪Instead, gently let liquids flow from your mouth naturally.

👉3. Stay Away From Smoking and Alcohol

✪Smoking reduces blood supply to the surgical area and slows healing.

✪ Alcohol may interfere with medications and irritate the wound. Avoid both for at least a few days — ideally until your dentist advises.

👉4. Avoid Hard, Sticky, or Very Hot Foods

✪Your mouth will be sensitive for the first few days. Hard or sticky foods can disturb the implant, while hot foods may increase bleeding or discomfort.

✪Choose soft, room-temperature foods like yogurt, khichdi, smoothies, soups, etc.

👉5. Don’t Rinse Vigorously

✪Rinsing too strongly can disturb the healing tissues.

✪Wait 24 hours before rinsing, and then use gentle warm saline water or any medicated mouthwash recommended by your dentist.

👉6. Avoid Heavy Workouts or Physical Strain

✪Intensive exercise increases blood pressure and may lead to more bleeding or swelling around the implant site.

✪Take it easy for the first 24–48 hours.

👉7. Do Not Skip Your Medications

✪Antibiotics and painkillers are given to help healing and prevent infection.

✪Missing doses can affect recovery. Follow your dentist’s instructions carefully.

👉8. Avoid Chewing on the Implant Side

✪Chewing directly on the surgical side puts unnecessary pressure on the implant.

✪Stick to the opposite side until the initial healing phase is complete.

👉9. Don’t Sleep on the Affected Side

✪Pressure on the surgical area can worsen swelling.

✪Sleep on the opposite side and keep your head slightly elevated.

👉10. Watch for Signs of Infection or Complications

✪Although complications are rare, it’s important to be aware of potential signs of infection or implant failure.

✪If you notice any of the following, contact your dentist immediately:

▼Severe pain that doesn’t improve with medication▼

✪Persistent swelling or bleeding
✪Fever or chills
✪A bad taste or odor in your mouth
✪Loose implant or crown

👉11. Use a Night Guard If Recommended

✪In some cases, your dentist may recommend wearing a night guard if you have a habit of grinding or clenching your teeth (bruxism).

✪This is especially important during the healing process, as grinding can put pressure on the implant and cause complications.

✪A night guard will help protect your dental implant and ensure it integrates correctly.

✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿

👩‍⚕️A dental implant is an investment in your smile and long-term oral health.

💫 Following proper aftercare practices is essential for its success. By avoiding these common mistakes, you help ensure smooth healing and long-lasting results.

👉If you have any questions or experience unusual discomfort, always contact your dentist immediately.

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Cosmetic Smile Health Mouth Cancer Treatment

SUPARI /BETEL NUT CHEWING and ITS IMPACT IN ORAL HEALTH

Betel nut or Supari also known as Areca nut, is one of the most commonly consumed psychoactive substances in South and Southeast Asia.

✪Traditionally chewed
alone or wrapped in a betel leaf (often with slaked lime and sometimes tobacco), it holds cultural, social, and religious significance in many communities.

✪However, from a dental and medical standpoint, betel nut chewing has serious consequences for oral and overall health.
[4:43 pm, 19/9/2025] Me: ✪Effects on Oral Health and Its Treatments✪

1) Staining/ Discoloration of Teeth

Chewing betel nut causes reddish-brown stains on teeth and gums that are difficult to remove with regular brushing. Over time, this leads to poor aesthetics and a neglected oral appearance.

✪ Treatment ✪
1) Professional Dental Cleaning
2) Tooth Whitening
3) Restorative /Cosmetic options for severe tooth discoloration
4) Prevention and Care

2) Loose gum/ Pyorrhea

Betel nut acts as an irritant to oral tissues. Regular use is strongly associated with gum inflammation, pocket formation, periodontal disease. The fibrous texture of the nut also causes mechanical trauma, leading to gum recession.

✪ Treatment ✪
1) Cleaning the Teeth
2) Medicines
3) Gum Surgery
4) Maintain proper Hygiene

3) Progressive wearing away of tooth enamel / Tooth Attrition

✪Sensitivity✪
●The hard, fibrous nature of the nut accelerates tooth wear, causing attrition and sensitivity.
● Treatments :
1) Toothpaste for Desensitizing
2) Fluoride Treatment : Thicken the Enamel of tooth to resist severe sensitivity.
3) Dental Sealents & Bonding : To Protect exposed Dentin and mend Enamel damage.
4) Sensitive Gum : Gum grafting, Scaling & Root planning
5) Severe Tooth Sensitivity : Endodontic treatments( RCT, Crown,Inlays/Onlays)
6) Oral Hygiene : Brush twice a day, Floss everyday, Dental Checkup

✪ The loss of vertical tooth height results in Ageing of face and wrinkles.
This demands restoration of lost tooth structure with a systematic treatment planning and execution of Full Mouth Rehabilitation

4) Reduce Mouth Opening
One of the most serious conditions linked to betel nut is oral submucous fibrosis, a precancerous condition where the oral tissues become stiff and inelastic. Patients experience burning sensation while eating spicy foods and difficulty opening the mouth.

✪ Treatment ✪
1) Mouth opening Exercises : Using fingers, wooden spatulas, tongue depressors, or mouth opening devices- Heister Mouth Gag).
Heat therapy and ultrasound physiotherapy to relax muscles.
2) Nutrition Suppliments
3) Surgical Management
4) Steroid gels or hyaluronidase injections in fibrotic conditions.

5) Oral Cancer

Betel nut chewing is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen (cancer-causing substance) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
●Leukoplakia is a white patch in the mouth that is considered a precancerous lesion because it carries a risk of developing into oral cancer.
●Erythroplakia bright red patches seen as higher risk of malignant transformation. Long-term use significantly increases the risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma, especially when combined with tobacco.

✪ Treatment✪
Diagnosis & Planning by Biopsy and Scans CT, MRI, PET-CT
1) Surgery as Main Treatment
●Radiotherapy
●Chemotherapy ●Reconstruction Flap Surgery
2) Supportive & Rehabilitation Care
●Speech therapy & physiotherapy
●Dental prosthesis or Implants
●Nutritional support & Habit counselling
3) Follow up for Lifelong monitoring advised.

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Factcheck Health

🦷 Loss of Teeth = Loss of Hearing?

The Surprising Link Between Oral Health and Hearing Loss

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Health Prevention Treatment

BURSTING MYTHS REGARDING ROOT CANAL AND COMPLICATIONS RELATED TO IT

If you’ve ever been told you need a root canal treatment (RCT), you’re not alone. Millions of people undergo this common dental procedure every year to save natural teeth and relieve pain. But if you have hypertension (high blood pressure) or diabetes, you might have special concerns. In this blog, we’ll explain what a root canal is, the potential complications for people with these medical conditions, and what to do if something goes wrong.

What Is Root Canal Treatment?
A root canal treatment is a dental procedure used to treat infection or inflammation inside a tooth. The soft tissue inside the tooth — called the pulp — can become infected due to deep decay , cracks , trauma or repeated dental procedures .

MYTHS VS FACTS

#Myth: You don’t need a root canal if the tooth doesn’t hurt.
Fact: A tooth can need treatment even without pain if infection is present.
#Myth: Root canals require multiple long appointments.
Fact: Many root canals are completed in just one or two visits.
#Myth: After a root canal, the tooth is completely healthy.
Fact: A root-canaled tooth still needs a crown for full protection.
#Myth: Root canal treatment is only for adults.
Fact: Children may also need root canals on baby teeth in certain cases.
#Myth: Root canals remove the roots of the tooth.
Fact: The roots remain; only the infected pulp is removed.
#Myth: You can’t get cavities in a root-canaled tooth.
Fact: The tooth can still decay if not properly cared for.
#Myth: Root canals are not necessary if antibiotics relieve the pain.
Fact: Antibiotics only provide temporary relief; the source of infection must be treated.

What to Do If a Root Canal Goes Wrong

Though most root canals are successful, problems can occasionally arise. Usually root canals take 10 days to heal . It is advised to follow strict protocol as intructed by the doctor of avoiding chewing pressure on that side for around 5-7 days .

But pain persisting even after 15 days of root canal is unusual and should be looked itno seriously . and there might be a chance of root canal failure .

Root canal treatment (RCT) is generally highly successful, with success rates around 85–95%. However, failures can occur due to several factors. Here are the common circumstances in which root canal treatment may fail:

IMPROPER CLEANING OR SHADPING OF CANALS
POOR OBTURATION ( FILLING )
PERSISTANT OR RECURRENT INFECTIONS
PROCEDURAL ERRORS
SYSTEMIC OR HOST FACTORS
TRAUMA

Signs It Might Be Failing:

Persistent pain after a few days
Swelling or abscess
Tooth discoloration
Bad taste or odor
Fever or general malaise

Next Steps:

Contact your dentist immediately — early intervention can prevent complications.
You may need:
- A repeat root canal (retreatment)
- An apicoectomy (minor surgical cleaning of the root tip)
- In rare cases, tooth extraction
Follow all post-treatment care instructions, especially if you have hypertension or diabetes.

Aspect	RCT (Root Canal Treatment)	Re-RCT (Re-Root Canal Treatment)
1. Definition	First-time cleaning and sealing of infected tooth pulp	Retreatment of a previously root-canaled tooth
2. Purpose	To eliminate infection and save the tooth	To fix issues from failed or incomplete initial RCT
3. Complexity	Generally straightforward	More complex due to prior treatment and possible damage
4. Time & Visits	Often 1–2 appointments	May require more visits and longer treatment time
5. Cost	Usually less expensive	Typically more costly due to difficulty and duration

CONCLUSION

Root Canal Treatment (RCT) remains a highly effective procedure to save teeth affected by deep decay or infection. However, in some cases, initial treatment may not be successful due to factors like missed canals, complex anatomy, or reinfection. In such instances, Re-RCT (retreatment) offers a second chance to preserve the tooth and restore oral health.

Early diagnosis, skilled intervention, and proper follow-up care play crucial roles in the success of both RCT and Re-RCT. If you’re experiencing persistent discomfort in a previously treated tooth, don’t ignore it—timely retreatment may be the key to saving your natural smile.