
You’ve invested quite a bit in your new dental implants. And it truly is an investment: because of implants’ potential longevity, their long-term costs could actually be lower than other restorations whose upfront costs might be less.
But to better ensure their longevity, you’ll need to keep your implants and the natural tissues supporting them clean of bacterial plaque, a sticky biofilm that can cause periodontal (gum) disease. Although the implant itself is unaffected by disease, the natural tissues around it can be. An infection could ultimately weaken the bone supporting the implant and lead to its failure.
Such an infection involving implants could advance rapidly because they don’t have the natural defenses of the original teeth. Our natural teeth are connected to the jaw through the periodontal ligament, a collagen network that attaches to both the teeth and the bone through tiny tissue fibers. This connection also provides access to antibodies produced by the body to fight infection.
By contrast, we place implants directly into the jawbone. While this creates a very secure attachment, the implant won’t have the same connection as teeth with the body’s immune system. That means any infection that develops in surrounding tissues can spread much more rapidly—and so must be dealt with promptly.
Treating this particular form of gum disease (known as peri-implantitis) is similar to infections with natural teeth and gums, with one important difference involving the tools we use to remove plaque from them. While natural teeth can handle metal scalers and curettes, these can create microscopic scratches in the porcelain and metal surfaces of an implant and create havens for further bacterial growth. Instead, we use instruments made of plastic or resin that won’t scratch, as well as ultrasonic equipment to vibrate plaque loose.
To avoid an infection, it’s important that you brush your implants and surrounding tissues just like you would your natural teeth (be sure you use a soft-bristled brush). And keep up regular dental visits for thorough cleanings and checkups to stay ahead of any developing gum infection. Maintaining your dentures will help ensure they continue to brighten your smile for a long time.
If you would like more information on dental implants, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Dental Implant Maintenance: Implant Teeth Must be Cleaned Differently.”
Comments:

Patient Education
Archive:
- 2021
- 2020
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
Tags
- dental implants (20)
- celebrity smiles (60)
- bridgework (1)
- dental injury (6)
- mouthguard (2)
- athletic mouthguards (2)
- dental anxiety (1)
- TMJ Pain (1)
- dental injuries (1)
- oral hygiene (21)
- pediatric care (1)
- crown lengthening (1)
- cosmetic dentistry (15)
- Dentures (10)
- oral health (16)
- tooth grinding (1)
- orthodontics (7)
- retainers (5)
- bad breath (1)
- wisdom teeth (6)
- x-rays (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- crowns (4)
- teeth whitening (5)
- braces (7)
- sedation dentistry (2)
- pediatric dentistry (15)
- bulimia (1)
- orthognathic surgery (1)
- jaw surgery (1)
- porcelain veneers (2)
- veneers (4)
- nutrition (6)
- tooth decay (5)
- fluoride (2)
- missing teeth (3)
- mouth sores (1)
- dental emergency (1)
- sugar (1)
- dental crowns (3)
- dental bridges (2)
- restorative dentistry (4)
- toothache (2)
- tmj disorders (2)
- mouthguards (2)
- apioectomy (1)
- chipped tooth (3)
- dental bonding (1)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- periodontal disease (1)
- tooth loss (2)
- orthodontic treatment (15)
- bonding (1)
- jaw pain (4)
- tmj (3)
- gum disease (16)
- laser dentistry (2)
- headgear (1)
- smile makeover (1)
- topical fluoride (1)
- cosmetic contouring (1)
- baby teeth (1)
- cancer (1)
- periodontal surgery (1)
- gummy smile (1)
- sinus surgery (1)
- bone grafting (2)
- tooth pain (3)
- teeth grinding (2)
- diabetes (1)
- gum recession (2)
- oral cancer (2)
- trigeminal neuralgia (1)
- facial pain (1)
- Damaged Teeth (1)
- Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures (1)
- sports drinks (1)
- smoking (2)
- thumb sucking (1)
- eating disorder (1)
- Dental Implant (4)
- apicoectomy (1)
- retainer (1)
- root canal treatment (5)
- tooth wear (1)
- extraction (1)
- chipped teeth (1)
- cleft lip (1)
- cleft palate (1)
- oral surgery (1)
- TMJ/TMD (1)
- dental cleaning (1)
- tooth replacement (1)
- Crowns and Bridges (2)
- root canal (1)
- fillings (1)
- Partial Dentures (1)
- Full Dentures (1)
- sealants (1)
- sleep apnea (2)
- snoring (2)
- lingual braces (1)
- dental care (2)
- Dentist in Marietta GA (1)
- Bridges (1)