Caring For Your Dental Implant: Tips For Long-term Success

Dental Implant Methodology and Use

Dental implants are originally made of alloplastic material like titanium, which is a biocompatible material. It acts as a supportive device used to support one or more damaged or missing teeth. During treatment, it gets implanted into the oral tissues beneath the mucosa by the dental surgeon.

This implant gets accepted by the body so that osseointegration (fusion between the bone and the implant) is more likely to occur. 

Titanium is the frequently used metal that provides a strong foundation for forming replacement teeth with sturdy support, which continues to strengthen over time. This leads to the formation of stronger bonds between the bone and the implant as they fuse.

Implant Safety and Care:

Regular maintenance has the biggest impact on how long they last. Negligence in the aftercare of implants can have adverse effects.

The chances of developing a coating on the implants become higher leading to its failure. Gum infection, bleeding, soreness, and general discomfort can happen if you don’t take care of your teeth.

Dental Implant Care  

This can be divided into 2 categories.

• Immediate post-op care of implants (which is very important to stabilize the implant in the tooth socket )
• Regular care of implants for long-lasting results
  
  

Immediate care:

• Biting on the sponges placed inside the newly placed dental implant stops bleeding. The sponge soaks the blood and gives cushioning effect between the upper and lower jaw
• For the first 8 to 12 hours post-surgery, avoid moving around excessively and keep the  head elevated this helps in reducing the blood flow 
• Ice pack massage to the face especially to the painful side in 15-minute intervals to relax the facial muscles
• Only consume soft foods and beverages for at least 24 hours  post to implant surgery 
• Medicines needed to cure a disease should be taken regularly.
• For the first 24 hours, avoid rinsing your mouth with any alcohol-based mouthwash 

Regular Care:

• Use a Soft Nylon Brush: Nylon toothbrushes come with bristles that are pliable and gentle on dental implants. Avoid toothbrushes that contain hard bristles these can scratch the surface of implants.
• After food flossing and brushing are mandatory to maintain better oral hygiene.
• Avoid Abrasive Products: Stick to buying sensitive cleaning products (toothpaste and mouthwash) as much as possible.
• Avoid oral hygiene products with intense flavours, like mint or cinnamon, as these can cause an uncomfortable feeling in the mouth.
• Floss Daily: Flossing becomes very essential in the case of implants. It prevents plaque formation around the dental implants and can help in maintaining oral hygiene.
  
• Avoid Sticky/Hard Foods: Eating hard and sticky foods results in damage to implants. These foods cause damage to opposing teeth. Food items like caramel, dried fruit, hard candies, potato chips, and hard shell tacos should be avoided after getting implants.
• Avoid Smoking and Alcohol: Consumption of alcohol has a detrimental effect on the healing process of dental implants so this should be avoided as much as possible.

Regular Visits to the Dentist

Dental implants help in improving the smile. Depending on overall oral health, Regular visits to the dentist can help in maintaining oral hygiene.

With proper care and regular visits to the dentist, dental implants can last for a lifetime.

• Address Existing Health Problems: For health problems such as gum disease, an autoimmune disorder, diabetes, or osteoporosis the implant may not integrate properly.
• A dental professional will be able to determine if any health concerns may compromise the integrity of dental implants.
• Avoid Grinding or Clenching: Teeth grinding and jaw clenching exert excessive pressure on the implant, preventing it from bonding with the bone or causing it to loosen over time.
• Wearing a mouth guard can prevent this and helps in saving an implant.
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• Monitoring Insufficient Gum Tissue or Bone Density: When there is less gum tissue or the bone is not dense enough, it is more likely that the implant won’t bond to the bone.
• Treatment options like  bone grafting, gum tissue grafting, and gum contouring works as a remedy to these roadblocks for dental implant procedure.

Avert from Peri-Implantitis

This is a type of bacterial infection develops near the implant due to poor dental hygiene post-surgery. This can infect the gums, potentially causing bone loss and implant failure.

Problems like thin gums, uncontrolled diabetes, poor oral hygiene, and smoking habits promote the risk of developing peri-implantitis.

These issues can be addressed and prevented with diligent adherence to a dentist-recommended oral hygiene routine.

Adjust Certain Medications

The patients must inform the doctor about their current medications before the procedure.

Medicines like Bisphosphonates and some heartburn medications increase the risk of implant failure.

There are many options in modern pharmaceuticals to find alternative treatment and medication options that will not complicate the implant procedure. 

Dental implants: A smile that lasts a lifetime!

To maintain a bright smile for years to come, you need to ensure your implants stay strong.

Park Dental Clinic, Dwarka Sec-7, Delhi is the best dental clinic in Dwarka who have the best dentist, orthodontist, and implantologist having expertise in addressing all your dental issues and providing comprehensive treatment.

It is a one-stop solution for all dental-related problems like Root Canals, dental implants, and braces with the most economical and pocket-friendly solutions.

References

https://www.news-medical.net/health/Dental-Implant-Techniques.aspx

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470448/

https://www.dentalhealth.org/dental-implants

https://forestparkdental.com/dental-implant-care-7-tips-for-looking-after-your-implants/

https://www.louisvilleoralfacialsurgery.com/single-post/ensuring-successful-dental-implants