If you finally replaced your missing teeth with dental implants, you may be wondering how to take good care of them to keep them healthy. Dental implants do not require special maintenance. As long as you care for them as regularly as you care for the rest of your teeth (this includes regular brushing, flossing and professional dental cleanings and check-ups), they are less likely to fail.
At Expert Implants, we are committed to providing the best aftercare possible to patients who opt to have Southampton dental implants. Ultimately, dental implants can fail due to impact, inflammation caused by a type of gum disease (peri-implantitis), or infection, therefore our experienced dentists will do their best to prevent any of these complications.
Maintaining your dental implants
Dental implants are surgically fixed into the jawbone, where they are left to fuse with the bone tissue over a period of time. Depending on the size, type and location of the dental implant in the mouth, this process can take from a few weeks to several months. The periodontal ligaments that help keep the natural teeth together are made of fibres which act as a shield between the tooth and bone. These fibres are not present in dental implants, which are instead fused to the bone and do not allow any movement. As such, loosened dental implants are destined to fail and for this reason taking care of Southampton dental implants is really important.
Implant patients should be careful not to:
- Clench or grind their teeth
- Chew hard foods (including ice)
- Neglect oral hygiene
- Develop gum disease.
Home care
Proper home care of your Southampton dental implants includes brushing twice a day and flossing at least once per day. Additional measures to keep your dental implants clean and infection-free include using antibacterial mouth rinses, interdental brushes or even an oral irrigator. The surfaces of your dental implants can be easily scratched, therefore using a hard-bristled toothbrush is not recommended.
Regular cleanings
If you are unsure about the frequency of visiting the dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings, ask our dentist. Depending on your oral health problems, we recommend visiting us as often as every three months and on average every six months between cleanings.
