Tips for Proper Dental Implant Care

Dental implants provide effective solutions to problems caused by missing teeth. The implants are embedded into the jawbone to replace lost teeth, regardless of the number of teeth missing. A single tooth is used to replace one missing tooth, while a series of implants can be used to restore the smile when several or all of the teeth are lost. Dental implants can also improve the use of dentures that have become loose over time. The titanium implants act as stable anchors that connect the teeth restoration (such as a fixed dental bridge) to the jawbone, eliminating the risk of uncontrollable movement.

Implants are artificial tooth roots, but that does not mean that they can be neglected and left on their own. The dental implants still need proper care to ensure that the implant system does not fail. If the implants are not properly maintained, they can still be prone to dental problems that can harm the overall dental health. After an implant placement, proper personal dental care should still be practised to ensure that the implants stay in good condition.

Regular tooth brushing should be followed to clean all the surfaces of the teeth, as well as the areas in between the gum line and inside the mouth. Irregular tooth brushing can result to food pieces being left in the mouth, which can in turn eventually lead to the development of plaque. Along with proper tooth brushing, using dental floss should also be done on a regular basis. The floss efficiently cleans the areas between the teeth and the gum line, which can easily trap food debris that may not be completely removed by a toothbrush. Cleaning these areas is important to maintain good gum health, which in turn is essential in the proper maintenance of the dental implant system.

Harmful habits such as smoking can lead to the failure of dental implants. This is because the chemicals in cigarettes can lead to gum problems; if the gums become weak, they may not be able to fully support the implants embedded into the jawbone. Those who have dental implants are highly encouraged to stop smoking to keep their implants healthy. Regular visits to the implant dentist are highly encouraged to ensure that the condition of the implants is monitored. These regular dental check-ups will help in the early diagnosis of any dental problems, so they can be treated accordingly before they have a chance to become complicated concerns.