“How do I care for my dental implants?”
I recently got dental implants done. Is there anything that I should keep in mind while taking care of them?
11 Answers
Please visit your dentist to review the home care instructions. Size, location and the restoration on top of the implant all play a factor on how you will care for it.
Most important is to brush AND FLOSS. No food should be allowed to lodge by the implants. Make sure the "bite" is never heavy on the implants. Keep going to your Dentist every 4-6 months to have him check . Radiographs must be taken to evaluate the surrounding bone.
You take care of them like natural teeth. You will feel when flossing, that you are able to go deeper around the implant, completely normal. Keep up with regular dentist exams, they will keep a close eye on how your implant is maintaining bone !
You must take care of dental implants like your own teeth, proper oral hygiene, brushing, flossing, bridge threader,check the gums and your bite and have periodical xrays to make sure there is no loss of bone around your tooth implant
You should brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes, strive to floss daily. You should visit your dentist at least every six months for regular cleanings, check ups, and yearly radiographs. Good oral hygiene is essential to keeping an implant healthy, thus reducing the risk of implant failure.
Yes, please keep in mind that implants are subject to Periodontal disease just like a natural tooth. In addition to normal brushing and flossing of your teet, I recommend the use of the water flossed made by WaterPik. It is a good adjunctive appliance that can facilitate cleaning the difficult contours often associated with implant restorations. Implants are an excellent restorative option, but they are not free of good homecare habits.
You want to be sure that the money you have spent on implants is well served and you should have had an extensive explanation of how to thoroughly clean and disinfect your post, and a maintenance schedule to evaluate your progress back in the same office where you received your treatment.
This is an excellent question and one that many dentists couldn't answer! Dental implants are different from natural teeth in how they attach to the bone. Due to this difference their care also varies. One certainty is that because of the expense and time of this investment, you do not want to ever lose this implant. Here is what I've learned over the years regarding postoperative care. Have the implants cleaned by an hygienist four times yearly. Have x-rays taken of the implants yearly. Use an antibiotic mouthrinse daily and hold it in your mouth for two to three minutes, three is better. The standard of care for antibiotic mouthrinses is Chlorhexidine but chlorhexidine can leave an unlightly surface stain on the teeth. Tooth and Gum Tonic is also excellent for killing germs and does not leave that stain. Have the implant examined by a dentist twice yearly.