Many people believe that since a dental implant can’t cause cavities/decay, they don’t have to be as meticulous with their oral hygiene as natural teeth. This is INCORRECT! Dental implants need healthy gum tissue and supporting bone to succeed. Clean gums are also essential for the success of dental implants.
To keep your implants healthy and clean, certain procedures and efforts are necessary to prevent them from accumulating harmful germs and plaque, which can induce peri-implantitis. (Peri-implantitis is an inflammatory disease that targets soft and hard tissues surrounding the dental implant, which may result in the loss of the device.)
Dental implants are a highly successful medical intervention despite the cleaning difficulties that some types of prostheses may create. The prevention of peri-implant disease is critical to long-term implant health and performance. It’s an important factor in the success of your implants.
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SINGLE TOOTH IMPLANTS CARE (Natural teeth care is provided similarly.)
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean twice a day, at the very least.
- Use mild toothpaste made of low-abrasiveness materials.
- Brush the implant crown and surrounding area.
- Use a nylon-coated interdental brush to clean difficult-to-reach regions.
- Use unwaxed tape or implant-specific floss to floss daily.
- Use a recommended oral irrigator (Water-Pik) to rinse your mouth.
- If you clench or grind your teeth at night, discuss a retainer or night guard with Dentist Located In Mira Mesa. This may assist to relieve strain and protect the implant from unnecessary stress.
- Unless your Prosthodontist advises you to do so, see your dentist twice a year.
IMPLANT OVERDENTURES CARE (REMOVABLE)
- Rinse the dentures well and gently brush the undersides with a denture brush and non-abrasive cleaner/toothpaste after each meal.
- While the denture is removed, clean around your implants with a toothbrush to remove any debris and prevent plaque from accumulating.
- Before putting it in your mouth, rinse the overdenture with water to ensure that all of the powder is removed.
- If your Prosthodontist advises you to clean your dentures every day, follow the instructions above, then soak them in a special solution for the recommended time. (Some must be soaked for at least 12 hours, while others do not. Determine which method is best for you based on your dentist’s instructions.)
- Examine any o-rings, locator caps, and fasteners for wear or absence. If they’re damaged or missing, notify your dentist immediately.
- To keep O-rings and locator caps in good working order, inspect them annually and replace them as needed. They wear down with time and use, so talk to your dentist about replacing them once a year.
- According to your dentist’s suggestions, schedule normal checkups. (Depending on various factors, this can vary from three to twelve months.) Again, contact your dentist for advice on what is appropriate for you.
OVERDENTURES ON ACRYLIC ARE NOT RECOMMENDED:
Abrasive toothpaste: Scraping, for example, can damage the materials and make them more prone to staining and plaque formation. A smooth surface is far easier to keep clean than a scratched one!
FULL ARCH FIXED BRIDGES OR ALL ON 4 FIXED BRIDGES CARE
One of the reasons this kind of prosthesis may be difficult to clean for some patients is because of its design. It’s critical that the prosthesis be built with cleansability in mind from the start: The shape of the tip is meant to have a convex edge, allowing it to be easily cleaned without trapping food debris and plaque underneath, resulting in foul breath. This is where so many doctors and laboratories fall short with this prosthesis, and there’s no need for it; it’s just because they’re lazy!
- Brush your teeth twice a day, using a soft-bristled toothbrush if possible.
- Use a Water pik twice a day at least. Look for areas and access points that allow you to dislodge food debris most effectively. Use a medium or low setting if high doesn’t irritate or separate non-keratinized tissue attachment from the implants, as it may do.
- Daily floss beneath the bridge is recommended. Oral B’s SuperFloss or a floss threader and regular floss are both excellent alternatives.
- Clean the portion of your prosthesis that reaches your gums with a sulcus brush.
- Rinse your mouth with Listerine or another disinfecting mouthwash every day to keep it clean.
- Schedule regular checkups at the intervals suggested by your dentist. (Depending on a variety of factors, these might range from 3 to 12 months apart.) Consult with your dentist for suggestions about what is best for you.
NOT RECOMMENDED:
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- Dental prosthetics are often constructed of plastic or metal. Metal instruments may scratch the implant surface, allowing germs to establish and cause harm, while plastic ones have been found to embed residues on the implant surface. To endure a lifetime, these surfaces must not be scratched and must retain their integrity.