Caring For Your Dental Implants from Arlington Dentist

Is cleaning your dental implants the same as cleaning your natural teeth? Not quite. Your dental implants and their connecting abutments are made out of a different material than natural dental structure, and they attach to your gums differently, too. Your dental hygienist will use special tools for cleaning your dental implants during your checkup and cleaning. At-home care, however, does not look much different from what you are probably used to. Learn how to care for your dental implants in Arlington from your dentist, Dr. Stephen Wardlaw.

How Dental Implants Are Different

A natural tooth is made up of a root and its crown. Inside the root is the pulp (also commonly called the nerve) and a layer of dentin. Outside of the tooth is the enamel, the hard, white part you can see. In a natural tooth, the root and its crown are stabilized by healthy gums.

A dental implant takes the place of the missing tooth’s root. It works so well because the dental implant is made of titanium, a material that fuses with bone tissue. A prosthetic crown is secured on top of the dental implant with a connecting abutment. A single tooth replacement is a dental crown that is permanently affixed on top. For multiple tooth replacement, removable bridgework and full dentures are used.

Dental Implants Maintenance At Home

Solid dental hygiene habits should begin before the initial dental implant placement to ensure there is healthy gum tissue for proper healing. Before tooth extraction or dental implantation, make sure you are brushing your teeth for two minutes, twice a day, flossing daily, and maintaining a balanced diet. Continued home-care should begin immediately after implantation.

If you’ve got a removable prosthesis, like a denture or bridgework, you should be brushing your dental implants gently every day. Use a soft toothbrush — manual or electric — or an interdental brush for maximum cleaning. You must remove the majority of biofilm, the sticky plaque that builds up, to prevent the condition known as peri-implantitis. Peri-implantitis is a gum infection that causes the failure of the dental implant, even after initial healing and integration.

Floss any remaining natural teeth daily for continued oral health. An unwaxed or implant-specific floss can be the safest way to remove food particles and prevent plaque buildup in the area around a dental implant.

Patients should also avoid smoking and other forms of tobacco use to ensure the continued success of their dental implants. Tobacco is a significant factor causing dental implant failure.

Visit Your Dentist Regularly

While dental implants have a success rate of approximately 95 percent, they require regular attention from your implant dentist. Make sure you are staying on top of your regular visits to your dentist’s office for thorough cleaning to prevent peri-implantitis and ensure that your dental implants last a lifetime.

Searching “dental implants near me” hoping for answers regarding your tooth replacement? Dr. Stephen Wardlaw is the implant expert Arlington residents and neighbors trust. Contact our office to schedule an appointment today!