Maintaining Dental Implants
February 23, 2018
Preserving your healthy, natural teeth is usually as simple as sticking to good oral hygiene and visiting your dentist regularly. However, as dental issues develop, preservation can become more complicated, especially if you have a restoration for one or more of your teeth. In the case of tooth loss, one of the number one benefits of replacing it with a dental implant is that implant restoration closely mimics your natural tooth by replacing the tooth’s root. In addition to the benefits that this can provide your long-term oral health, it can also mean that drastic changes do not need to be made to your hygiene routine to effectively maintain your dental implant.
Good Oral Hygiene
Just because you have replaced a lost tooth with a restoration and an implant does not mean that your smile is free from further complications. Ensuring your implant’s success and preventing future issues still requires a consistently good hygiene routine. Dental implants are biocompatible titanium posts that restore the roots of the teeth. Restorations with dental implants can be effectively cared for just as you do your teeth—by brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once. This hygiene routine can keep your teeth and implant restoration clean and free of harmful oral bacteria. A good routine also includes regular visits to your dentist to check on your implant and the rest of your smile.
Problems for an Implant
The good news is that a prosthetic tooth can never develop a cavity. While tooth decay can target healthy tooth structure, restorative materials are impervious to it. However, an implant post fused within your jawbone can still be compromised by the development of gum disease. Gum disease also forms from oral bacteria and attacks your gums and jawbone. Other issues that could threaten your implant include bruxism and TMJ disorder. All of these potential issues make visiting your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings even more vital to making your dental implant last for a lifetime.
Dental Implants Can Restore Your Smile
Maintaining dental implants can maintain your oral health. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry of Kansas City, MO, today at 816-427-4018.