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HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR DENTAL IMPLANTS

The Dental Implant

Dental implantology allows us to replace missing teeth with fixed teeth with a very natural look. The artificial teeth that we get with dental implantology help us to chew in a comfortable and efficient way, favoring a sustainable and lasting quality of life. However, it is also true that, with the passage of time, if we do not take proper care, we may suffer certain complications that could jeopardize the stability of the fixed teeth that support the implants.

The benefits of dental implants are many, as they provide fixed teeth, self-esteem and chewing comfort. However, implants can suffer serious problems in the medium and long term if the patient does not follow the rules of care after a dental implant.

There are two main causes of complications or loss of implants:

Perimplantitis: It is the chronic infection of the gums and surrounding bone. This infection is usually painless and therefore the patient is not aware that it exists. The cause of these infections are the bacteria that live in the mouth and accumulate inside the gum surrounding the implant. If there is no good hygiene on the part of the patient, with time these bacteria release toxins that destroy the bone that holds the implant, causing inflammation, suppuration, bleeding, failure and loss of the implant.
Bruxism or Occlusal Trauma: Overloading due to excessive masticatory forces on the implants can cause problems in the prosthesis, such as loosening of screws, fractures or breakage of the same.

How to care for your implants in 5 steps

Before placing the implants, look for implantology specialists in dental implant clinics with solid training, experience and reputation, such as Nakeji Dental with more than 35 years of experience. The surgical intervention must achieve a solid result, with a strong gum and bone around the implants to resist bacterial toxins. Similarly, the prosthesis that is then placed on top of the implants must be of high quality, made of resistant materials and allow for easy cleaning at home.

What is the best care after a Dental Implant?

To avoid problems, the following dental implant care is important:

Brushing 3 times a day.

Perform careful, methodical and frequent brushing according to the brushing technique (with manual or electric brushes) recommended by your dental implant specialist. The prosthesis designed by the dentist should allow the passage of these instruments in an easy and comfortable way. In addition, most of the bacteria in the mouth are found on the surface of the tongue, so we also recommend using tongue scrapers once a day to remove them.

2. Interdental hygiene.

Remember to brush between the implants with interdental brushes also 3 times a day. If the space between the implants is very small, you can use dental floss or superfloss. In addition, it is advisable to use an antiseptic mouthwash of proven efficacy once a day. Those that have proven to be most effective contain products such as chlorhexidine or triclosan.

3. Avoid smoking

It has been proven that smoking increases 4 to 6 times the chances of losing bone around the implants, for this reason and many others, it is advisable to avoid it.

4. Use an occlusal relaxation splint if you are a bruxer.

Patients who clench or grind their teeth should wear a splint at night to control and reduce the pressure exerted by clenching on the dental implants, avoiding overload on the prostheses and implants. In this way, fractures and wear of the implant-supported prosthesis are avoided.

5. Periodic reviews.

See your dental implant specialist every 4-6-12 months to check the condition of the gum and perform professional disinfections that will help eliminate bacteria that have already been introduced into the gum. It is advisable to have x-rays and probing of the implants annually to make an early diagnosis of perimplantitis or bone loss.

These guidelines will help you to greatly reduce chronic infections in the gums around the implants, favoring a greater durability and stability of the implants in the long term. Remember that gum diseases such as periodontitis are more aggressive in dental implants and therefore we must prevent them through the guidelines we have mentioned.

We hope these tips on how to care for dental implants given to you by our experts at Nakeji Dental will help you increase your knowledge and avoid future complications with them. Remember that we have the best dentists in Tijuana to perform any dental treatment.