Clean and Maintain Dental Implants
Dental implants are one of the best and healthiest ways to replace a missing tooth! Implants can be used to replace a single tooth or multiple teeth, even an entire arch or both arches with an implant-supported denture. There are a couple of modifications you will need to make to properly care for your dental implants but for the most part, maintaining a dental implant is pretty similar to caring for your natural teeth.
A dental implant acts as the artificial root of a tooth and supports the implant restoration (the crown or bridge or denture). The implant will fuse with the jaw bone structure to form a secure and stable foundation for the restoration. The abutment, which connects the restoration to the implant, sits above the gum tissue to hold the restoration in place.
How do I clean and maintain my dental implant?
It is very important to keep up a good oral hygiene routine at home and to visit your dentist on a regular basis for professional cleanings. Most implant patients are advised to have more frequent professional cleanings than the typical every six months. They may be best served with three or four cleanings each year to keep everything functioning and healthy.
The tools your hygienist will use for your professional cleaning will be specifically chosen to prevent damage to the crown, abutment, or even the implant itself. If the surface of any of these pieces is scratched, it can attract and harbor bacteria and cause an infection. Therefore, instruments made to clean implants are often made of plastic or resin. Your hygienist will also use an ultrasonic instrument which uses high frequency vibrations and water irrigation to remove larger debris and tartar buildup. Natural teeth do not scratch the way porcelain can so metal instruments are safe for cleaning them.
If any portion of the implant itself is visible, this may be an indication of infection which has resulted in a loss of gum or bone tissue. It is crucial to address any infection in an implant because dental implants have a rough surface or have threads like a screw to encourage fusion with the bone structure but when it becomes exposed, can be a perfect surface to harbor bacteria and plaque. The rough texture or threads can be difficult to clean on your own so seeing your hygienist regularly will help clear any infection and your Dentist can refer you to a specialist if you need bone added to the area.
During your homecare routine, your toothbrush will regularly remove biofilm and plaque but if calculus or dental cement (used to secure the crowns) is present on the implant surface, your hygienist will use instruments that are effective in removing these contaminants. In such cases the clinician must ensure no scratching or damage is caused by completing the task.
Though dental implants can pose some cleaning challenges, they are a highly effective and secure way to restore missing teeth, with a long-term success rate of over 95%. The prevention of peri-implant disease is fundamental to implant health, maintenance and function so be sure to see your Dentist regularly and your implant specialist at least once a year for routine check-up appointments!