You know that taking care of any type of dental treatment you receive is always essential – and promotes an extended life of that treatment. However, when it comes to caring for your dental implants, you may assume you’re going to have to do some extra special things to ensure they remain in good condition. The exciting news is that your hygiene sessions really won’t change very much. For specifics, enjoy a brief Q&A session.
Questions and Answers: Implant Maintenance
Question: Do I need to take special care of my implants to make sure they remain in good shape?
Answer: The best way to maintain successful dental implants is to keep up with our usual suggestions for your dental hygiene. Fortunately, this means your hygiene routine will still include brushing your teeth in the morning and again before bed with a toothbrush that has soft bristles (and fluoridated, nonabrasive toothpaste). You will also continue to floss daily.
Question: Why do I need to brush the area around my implant if the implant post and the restoration are made of artificial material?
Answer: Even though you will not experience tooth decay on the restoration or dental implant, these materials still harbor plaque. The bacteria within this plaque may affect surrounding teeth and will certainly affect your gum health. Avoid peri-implantitis (similar to gum disease) by keeping your entire smile clean.
Question: Will I need to replace my dental implants occasionally to keep them up, similar to the necessary replacement of a denture or bridge?
Answer: No. In most instances, you will be able to keep your implants in place indefinitely – the likelihood of this greatly increases when you stick to consistent dental hygiene efforts.
