Is Caring for Dental Implants Different than Natural Teeth?

If you’ve been considering dental implants to replace your loose or missing teeth, chances are you have a lot of questions surrounding their care. That’s to be expected—after all, our doctors understand that there are many different things to consider when you’re faced with a big decision concerning your oral healthcare, and you want to be sure you’re making the best choice for you.

Unfortunately, there are many patients our doctors see in Chesapeake that believe that dental implants will be truly carefree and that they won’t have to worry about taking care of them in any way. But the truth is, dental implants must be cared for just like natural teeth. We will talk more about dental implants and how you can ensure their success and longevity through proper care in this blog, so keep reading.

How to Properly Care for Dental Implants

It’s important that Chesapeake men and women keep their dental implants free of plaque and tartar buildup to ensure their new teeth and gums remain healthy and strong. To do this, patients must:

• Brush with a soft-bristle toothbrush twice a day
• Floss once a day
• Use antibacterial mouthwash once a day

While our doctors would love for all of their dental implants patients to brush their teeth after every meal, they know that’s an unrealistic expectation for many, so at the very least, they recommend rinsing your teeth with water after eating. Another tip would be to keep a travel-size mouthwash on hand so you can use it for a quick cleaning when needed.

Additionally, Chesapeake men and women should keep their biannual appointments with their general dentist for cleanings and check-ups. These cleanings are the best way to be sure your dental implants are professionally checked, so you are protected against implant failure and infection.

Helpful Tools You Can Use to Care for Your Dental Implants

Even though caring for dental implants is very similar to caring for natural teeth, it’s important to point out that the crowns placed on top of dental implants scratch more easily. Because of this, our doctors recommend patients consider using some of these tools for cleaning their dental implants:

• A soft-bristled toothbrush (manual or electric)
• Minimally abrasive toothpaste that has tartar-control properties
• Thin dental floss
• Interdental brushes to remove plaque between teeth

Consequences of Not Caring for Dental Implants Properly

Now that you have been fully equipped to properly care for your dental implants, our doctors want their Chesapeake patients to understand what could happen if you choose not to care for your dental implants as you should. If you notice any of the following symptoms, you could be experiencing peri-implantitis, which can lead to dental implant failure:

• Redness
• Bleeding
• Tenderness
• Swelling

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, be sure to make an appointment to see our doctors as soon as possible.

Call Our Doctors at Coastal Virginia Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery with Any Questions

If you have more questions concerning the care of your dental implants, or if you’d like to schedule an initial consultation to learn how this revolutionary tooth-replacement system can change your life for the better, don’t hesitate to contact our office in Chesapeake today!