Dental Implants: Benefits, Procedure & Aftercare

Dental Implants: Benefits, Procedure & Aftercare

05/09/2025

Dental implants can bring about life-changing results for patients, but the process can be daunting too. In this blog post, we break down all the benefits you can expect from your dental implants at North Down Dental, as well as what to expect from the procedure, and how to approach the aftercare.

Dental Implant Benefits

 Natural-looking finish and feel

At North Down Dental, we consider dental implants to be the gold-standard replacement option. One major reason for this is the natural look and feel dental implants offer patients. They are designed to look, feel, and function exactly as your natural teeth do, making eating, speaking, and keeping them clean as easy as 1,2,3.

Stable, comfortable and secure

Unlike traditional dentures or other replacement options such as bridges, dental implants are safely secured in place. Your prosthetic tooth or teeth will be anchored into the mouth via the titanium implants, making sure there’s no slipping or shifting. This makes eating and chewing so much easier, even with crunchy and chewy food items, and also completely removes any risk of embarrassment.

Prevent bone loss and improve overall oral health

With a lost tooth, the jawbone and surrounding structures are put at risk too and can begin to weaken and deteriorate. Implants, unlike other replacement options, help to protect and prolong the health of the jawbone. This can stop other oral health issues from arising and also keep you looking young and healthy as your natural facial structure is supported.

Enhance your smile

With dental implants, you get to choose exactly how your smile looks. By choosing dental implants from North Down Dental, you’ll be part of the design process and can either choose to mimic your natural smile or create the smile you’ve always wanted.

Easy to take care of

Taking care of your dental implants is much easier and more streamlined than looking after traditional dentures. There’s no more hassling around with adhesives or taking them out to soak in solution overnight. With implants, you’ll simply stick to an at-home oral health routine recommended by us here at North Down Dental.

Dental Implant Procedure

What is the procedure like for receiving dental implants? Well, the procedure will look a bit different according to which dental implants we are applying but for most patients it will go something like this:

Consultation

All dental implant treatment starts with a consultation. We’ll carry out a full assessment and examination of your mouth, which will probably include taking X-rays and other digital imaging. This will give us the full picture of your oral health and help us come up with the right treatment plan for you. By the end of the consultation, we’ll be able to give you a good idea of exact treatment times, full costs, and you’ll have time to ask us any questions you might have. 

Planning

We’ll be able to use the digital scans we take to draw up a detailed plan for your dental implant treatment. Using this cutting-edge technology allows us to plan the treatment more precisely and accurately than ever, making outcomes more predictable and reducing treatment time. We’ll also be able to determine whether you need any preparatory treatments. This might be tooth extractions for broken or damaged teeth or a bone graft to strengthen the jawbone. 

Treatment Day

We’re usually able to implant the titanium implants in just one appointment, ensuring you’re comfortable throughout with local anaesthetic and sedation. Once the titanium implants have been placed, we’ll fit a temporary tooth or teeth, which you’ll wear for 2-3 months while the site fully heals and the implant fuses successfully with the jawbone. Once that’s done, you’ll be fitted for your permanent, personal prosthetic.

Aftercare for Dental Implants in Northern Ireland Patients

After your dental implant treatment, you will need to rest and recuperate, which will help boost your recovery. You should plan to have the rest of the day off and should expect to take the following day off work too. We’ve shared some of our aftercare tips below, but for more information, Bupa has a comprehensive guide of what to expect after receiving dental implants.  

• Avoid food and hot drinks until your anaesthetic has completely worn off.
• Avoid hot food and drinks for the first 48 hours.
• Try to avoid ‘swilling’ liquid over the treated area and touching the area with your tongue or finger.
• Avoid alcohol for the first 24 hours.
• For the first week, we recommend a diet of soft foods.
• When cleaning your teeth, try to avoid the treatment site as much as possible but continue to brush your other teeth as normal.
• Use a salt mouthwash consisting of salt dissolved in lukewarm water daily for the first week.
• Avoid strenuous exercise such as running or going to the gym for the first week.
• Any swelling can be treated with ice and over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen and paracetamol.
• No smoking until the wound has healed.
• If any minor bleeding occurs, apply pressure by biting down on a damp swab or medical gauze and stay sitting upright for 60 minutes.
• If you experience persistent bleeding, or an increase in pain or swelling after a few days, please get in touch with us at North Down Dental.

At North Down Dental, we truly believe in the life-changing results and enhancements dental implants can bring about for our patients. Living with missing or broken teeth can be really difficult, affecting not just your day-to-day life, but your confidence and sense of self as well. We’re dedicated to helping our patients get the most out of their smiles, preserving their long-term health, and providing a truly 360-experience. 

For more information on what the North Down Dental experience is like, check out some of our patient testimonials.