Dental Implant Care

TAKING CARE OF YOUR IMPLANTS

 

FLOSSING, BRUSHING, ANTISEPTIC RINSING, AND MORE

The daily care of dental implants is like the care of your natural teeth. Restored implants should be kept clean and plaque free twice a day using a brush and floss. Cleaning and flossing after every meal are of paramount importance. This is accomplished by gently brushing, paying particular attention to all sides of your implant.

 

Cleansing modalities include:

 

Small, soft, manual toothbrush or an electric brush

Low-abrasive, tartar-control toothpaste

Dental floss for cleaning around the abutments

Other supplies that may be recommended by our surgeon can include:

 

Antiseptic mouth rinses

Inter-dental cleansing brushes to remove plaque between the teeth on either side of the implant(s)

Disclosing tablets to stain the locations of plaque accumulation

You must be committed to daily dental hygiene at home, in addition to regular visits to your general dentist. It is recommended that you consult with your general dentist every three months for a professional examination and cleaning. Your implant(s) must be examined with an X-ray annually.

 

WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF I DON'T TAKE CARE OF MY DENTAL IMPLANTS?

Implants can fail without daily care. The earliest sign of a problem begins with the observation of gingival (gum) bleeding. This is reoffered to as mucositis. The current scientific literature indicates that this is reversible if caught early. Unfortunately, if it progresses to bone loss, also known as peri-implantitis, the bone loss is not reversible. If peri-implantitis is not treated it can lead to advanced bone loss and the removal of the implant.

 

WHAT SHOULD MY DENTIST CHECK FOR AT EVERY CLEANING VISIT?

For an accurate assessment of implant health, dentists and hygienists need to probe and measure the gums around the implant, like natural teeth, check and compare X-rays annually, look for looseness, check the bite, and check all the components that are attached to the implants to make sure that they are functioning perfectly.

 

Dr. Matthew Hilmi provides expert dental implant services in Kingston, NY.