Dental Implant Maintenance: How to Care for Implant-Based Restorations

If you have lost your teeth in Centennial, Colorado, implant-based restorations from Piney Creek Family Dentistry are an effective solution for tooth loss. Unlike other replacement options such as dentures and bridges, dental implants are firmly anchored in the bone, providing a stable and functional tooth replacement. 

Proper maintenance is paramount to ensure that all parts of an implant last and function as they should. Read on to learn more about dental implant maintenance. 

Caring for implant restorations

Although dental implants are artificial, they require optimal maintenance to avoid failure. Dental implants can be compromised like natural teeth when the surrounding bone and gums become infected or inflamed because of poor maintenance. 

Good news! Taking care of your implant restorations isn’t complicated. Observe the tips below, and your implants will last many years.

• Optimal oral hygiene: Maintaining your implants is the same as caring for your natural teeth. You’re expected to brush your teeth at least twice daily and floss before bedtime. Optimal oral hygiene removes bad bacteria and built-in plaque and tartar to keep your implants and the adjacent tissues issue-free
• Consider a mouthguard: Have you been diagnosed with bruxism or chronic teeth grinding? It would help if you considered a personalized mouthguard as soon as practical. Forces generated as your teeth grind over each other are significant enough to dislodge your implant. A bespoke nightguard cushions your implants from bruxism-induced pressure to keep your implants intact
• Bi-annual dental exams: Despite your optimal oral hygiene at home, you should visit a dentist at least twice annually. During these dental check-ups, we routinely inspect the condition of your implants to ensure they look and function as they should. Furthermore, we professionally clean your teeth to remove built-in plaque and tartar
• Watch out for what you put in your mouth: Do you open bottles with your teeth or struggle to resist biting your fingernails? These poor oral habits can jeopardize the durability of your implants, so it’s advisable to refrain from them. Additionally, we encourage you to eat dental-friendly foods and avoid smoking to keep your implants in tip-top condition

Dental implants are a long-term solution for missing teeth but aren’t entirely problem-free. However, with good oral hygiene and a few other maintenance tips, your implants can last for life and be trouble-free!

Dental implants near me

Would you like to learn more about implant maintenance? Would you like to replace your missing teeth with implants? Call (303) 562-1051 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Tiffany Fritz for expert dental care.