You can replace missing teeth and receive the most comprehensive dental benefits with implant dentistry. A dentist can use an implant to replace one, a few, or an entire arch of lost teeth. This multi-step process will allow you to perform oral functions normally again, enhance your smile’s appearance, and prevent further dental problems following tooth loss.
However, an implant may fail if you do not take proper care of your smile after this procedure. Read on to find three tips for protecting your dental implants and ensuring long-lasting oral health benefits from this tooth replacement treatment.
How to Prevent Dental Implant Failure
Adhere to Aftercare Guidelines
Implant dentistry involves multiple steps to complete the tooth replacement process. After an initial consult, your dentist will place the anchor of the implant into the jaw using oral surgery. It will take a few months for the surgical site to heal and for the anchor to fuse properly with the jawbone.
Keep an eye on your implant sites during this recovery period. Your dentist will give you aftercare guidelines to tend to these vulnerable areas of the mouth as you heal. Be gentle while giving thorough care as needed.
Some soreness after the procedure is normal, and your dentist will give you pain management methods to use at home. Look for redness, swelling, and extreme pain in the area. This could mean that the implant is failing and will need prompt removal and treatment from your dentist.
When you return to your dentist to receive the permanent dental prosthetic, either a crown, bridge, or denture attached to the anchor, look for these same concerns afterward. If the devices seem ill-fitting or loose, tell your dentist because these could also point to a failing dental implant.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
Once you receive your dental implants, you will need to continue taking care of these devices as well as the rest of your smile. You will have instructions from your dentist to do so, but you will also need to continue proper oral hygiene habits. This means brushing your teeth twice each day and flossing daily.
Your dentist might suggest special brushes or flossing tools to ensure you can effectively remove plaque around your implant. Lingering plaque can lead to dental problems that may affect the fit of your oral appliances.
Implants will not suffer from tooth decay, but they will still garner plaque that could spread decay to your natural teeth and give you severe dental damage. Protect your smile by practicing good oral hygiene.
Proper oral hygiene will include attending routine teeth cleanings at your dentist’s office too. Your dentist will also perform an oral health exam during these check-ups. These appointments will ensure your implants function as well as they need to too. The dentist can spot early signs of failing implants and offer preventative care or restorative treatment as needed.