That cleaning part really got in my head too. When I first heard about the little brushes and water picks, I imagined myself messing it up or just forgetting a step and having some big problem down the line. But honestly, after the first couple weeks, it became more routine than I expected. The first few days felt awkward—like, trying to figure out which angle actually cleans under the implant—but it gets easier.
One thing that helped me was asking my dentist to actually show me on a model, not just give me a paper handout. Seeing it in person and getting to practice there made me way less anxious at home. And if you do decide to wait before getting the implant, you get a bit of time to mentally prep for all the new cleaning stuff anyway.
I still have those “am I missing something?” moments sometimes, but I think that’s just part of having something new in your mouth. Most people I’ve talked to say the same thing—it feels overwhelming at first but turns into just another part of your routine pretty fast.
I still have those “am I missing something?” moments sometimes, but I think that’s just part of having something new in your mouth.
Totally get this. When I got my implant, I kept thinking I’d skip a step and mess everything up. The first week, I was convinced I was doing it wrong. After a while, it’s just like brushing your teeth—awkward at first, but then you don’t even think about it. I did have to set reminders on my phone for a bit, though.
After a while, it’s just like brushing your teeth—awkward at first, but then you don’t even think about it.
That’s exactly what my kid went through. At first, she was so nervous about messing up the cleaning routine—she’d double-check with me every night. We made a little checklist together for the first couple weeks, and honestly, that helped both of us feel less anxious. Now she barely notices it’s there. I was hesitant about going straight for an implant, but seeing how quickly she adapted made me glad we didn’t wait.
I totally get that hesitation—my dentist laid out all the options after I lost a molar, and honestly, the idea of an implant seemed a bit intense at first. I ended up waiting a few months because I was worried about the cost and recovery. But then, not having that tooth started messing with how I chewed, and it just felt... off. Your checklist idea is genius though—I could’ve used that for my own sanity.
Did your kid have any issues with soreness or weird sensations after the implant? Mine took a while to stop feeling like I had a metal gadget in there (which, technically, I did).
That weird metal feeling is so real. I remember after mine, it honestly felt like I had a bolt in my jaw for weeks. Chewing just wasn’t the same, and I was hyper-aware of every little twinge. My dentist kept saying it’d settle, but I was convinced I’d never get used to it. Eventually, though, it just kind of faded into the background—now I barely notice unless I think about it.
As for soreness, yeah, there was some. Nothing unbearable, but definitely annoying. Ibuprofen helped, and I stuck to soft foods for a bit longer than they suggested just because I was nervous about messing anything up. Even now, if I bite down weirdly, I sometimes get this odd sensation—not pain, just... different.
I waited a while too before deciding, mostly because I kept second-guessing if I really needed the implant. But not having that tooth made chewing so awkward that it started stressing me out more than the idea of surgery. It’s wild how much one missing tooth can throw everything off.
