Dental Implant Maintenance

From the Practice Blog · Originally published December 2, 2018

Dental implants are not cheap. And, if you do not have the best health care coverage you have to protect them like a newborn baby! Maintaining dental implants is not difficult. Here are a few ways that you can ensure that your dental implants last as long as they should.

How to properly maintain your dental implants

Dental implants look, feel and work just like your natural teeth. Therefore, maintaining them is no different from caring for natural teeth. So, brush them at least twice a day, as one would natural teeth, or after meals. Pay close attention to the sides of the implants and get a toothbrush that is able to get to those hard to reach places. Flossing at least twice a day is also recommended. This prevents the build-up of plaque and also bad breath.

Use a fluoride toothbrush with tartar control. This prevents the tooth decay and the need for additional implants. It also helps to make the implant last much longer and have a healthier appearance.

Avoid using implants for something other than eating. This list of “other things” includes tearing plastic, biting fingernails, crushing ice or opening bottles. This can cause dental implants to chip or sustain damage. Not only can this be painful, but it will cost a lot to repair them. Just stick to putting edible items into your mouth.

Try to avoid foods that stain. This includes, but is not limited to, coffee, curry, wines, and sodas. While the material that makes up the prosthetic teeth is stain resistant, that doesn’t mean that getting a stain is impossible. If one does not rinse their mouth or brush their teeth right away, they can still get a stain.

If one participates in contact sports then he or she knows that getting a tooth or even multiple teeth knocked out, chipped or damaged is a huge possibility. Wearing a mouth guard greatly reduces the chances of this and prevents the dental implant from sustaining costly damage. Mouth guards are also recommended for people who have a habit of grinding and clenching their teeth.

Dental checkups are also necessary after getting a dental implant. People often think that once they have their implants, that this is a permanent fix but just like natural teeth, they will need to be looked after by a professional. The dentist will check to ensure that the implants are in good condition and will help to maintain and restore the teeth.

If dental implants are not properly maintained

If dental implants are not properly maintained, one can expect a number of problems to arise. These problems include but are not limited to plaque buildup, damage to surrounding teeth, mucositis or bleeding around the implant, additional repair costs and even infections. It’s important to maintain healthy dental implants, otherwise, the aftermath could get painful and costly.

However, if dental implants are properly maintained, then one has nothing to fear. The implants may last up to 25 years without fail. Just be sure to check in with a dentist who can detect any problems at an early stage and prevent potential harm.

If you’re still seeking ways to ensure healthy implants then reach out to us today! We’re here to offer our assistance in any way that we can.