Protecting Your Investment: A Guide to Dental Implant Maintenance
Congratulations on choosing dental implants, the gold standard for replacing missing teeth. You've made a wonderful, long-term investment in your health, function, and confidence. To ensure your new smile lasts a lifetime, it's essential to care for it properly. At Veda Family Dentistry, we provide specialized dental implant maintenance and empower you with the knowledge you need to protect your investment at home.
Your At-Home Care Routine for Dental Implants
While a dental implant cannot get a cavity, the gums and bone supporting it can still be vulnerable to disease. Proper home care is the first line of defense. Your routine should be very similar to caring for natural teeth, with a few key considerations.
Brushing: Brush twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush and a low-abrasion toothpaste. Pay special attention to cleaning around the implant crown where it meets the gum line.
Flossing: This is a critical step. You must clean around the abutment post that connects your crown to the implant. We recommend using specialized tools, such as floss threaders, implant-specific floss, or a water flosser (like Waterpik), to remove plaque from this area effectively.
Regular Self-Checks: Be aware of the health of your gums around the implant. If you notice any redness, swelling, or bleeding, contact us right away.
The Importance of Professional Implant Maintenance
Regular professional cleanings are absolutely essential for the long-term success of your dental implant. A standard cleaning is not sufficient; implants require a specialized approach.
During your implant maintenance visit, our skilled hygienists will:
Use Specialized Instruments: We use scalers made of special materials like plastic or titanium that will not scratch or damage your implant components.
Perform a Thorough Cleaning: We will meticulously remove all plaque and tartar from your implant crown, abutment, and the surrounding gum tissue.
Conduct a Detailed Exam: Dr. Priya or Dr. Moosavi will carefully check the stability of the implant, the health of the surrounding gums, and the integrity of the crown to ensure everything is functioning perfectly.
These professional maintenance visits should typically occur every six months, just like a regular dental check-up.
Common Threats to Your Dental Implants (And How to Prevent Them)
Proper maintenance helps you avoid the two biggest threats to the longevity of your implant.
Peri-implantitis
This is the implant equivalent of gum disease. It's a bacterial infection that causes inflammation in the gums and can destroy the jawbone supporting the implant. If left untreated, it can lead to the failure of the implant. Consistent home care and professional maintenance are the number one way to prevent it.
Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)
The implant post is incredibly strong, but the porcelain crown on top can be damaged by the excessive forces of nighttime teeth grinding. If you have a history of bruxism, we will strongly recommend a custom nightguard to protect your implant and your natural teeth while you sleep.
Why Trust Veda Family Dentistry with Your Implant Care?
Specialized Implant Expertise: As a practice that performs implant surgery, we have a deep, clinical understanding of how to care for them long-term. Dr. Ehsan Moosavi and our team know exactly what to look for to ensure your implant remains healthy.
The Right Tools for the Job: We are equipped with the specialized instruments necessary to clean and maintain your implants safely and effectively without causing any damage.
A Commitment to Your Long-Term Success: We see you as a long-term partner. Our goal is to provide the ongoing care and education you need to ensure the investment you made in your smile lasts a lifetime.
Comprehensive Care for Your Entire Smile: We don't just focus on your implant; we care for your entire mouth, ensuring your natural teeth and restorations work together in harmony.
Schedule Your Implant Maintenance Visit Today.
Whether we placed your implant or you are a new patient looking for expert long-term care, we are here for you. Protect your investment and ensure your smile stays healthy for life. Schedule your consultation.
What are dental implants and how do they work?
Is All-On-X right for me?
Are implant overdentures removable?
Why would I need a root canal?