Make Your Dental Implants Last

Dentist Blog

Dental implants offer patients a way to have an attractive smile after losing a tooth. Implants are easy to care for, but it might help to know what you can do to increase their longevity. Read on for some tips on keeping your smile as attractive as possible for as long as possible.

Your Implants Must Bond Properly

Implants consist of a titanium post inserted into your gums. This piece of metal is meant to bond to your jawbone by a process known as osseointegration. This process doesn't happen overnight; it can take several months for your implant to fully become part of your jawbone and be stable. In fact, the metal post is custom-designed to encourage growth onto it so that your implants remain stable through years and years of use. To get the most out of your implant, follow these tips.

• It's more important than ever before to take good care of your teeth after having an implant done. If you should develop an infection near the site of the implant, you could end up having the implant removed until the infection is dealt with. That means seeing your dentist at the first sign of a cavity or abscess anywhere in your mouth to avoid that problem.
• Use special care when flossing around an implant. Avoid using waxed floss and be sure that you can insert floss all the way between your implant and your other teeth. There should be enough space for the floss to easily pass. If not, speak to your dentist about adjusting the implant slightly. Never floss to the degree that bleeding occurs. Report all such instances to your dentist.
• Use care when using teeth-whitening products. Some of them contain abrasive materials that are too harsh for your implants. Avoid using whitening toothpaste for the same reason. Many of these whitening products use baking soda as an abrasive. Even something as natural as baking soda can damage the finish on your implant.
• Don't use products with stannous fluoride in them. They produce an acidic reaction that can damage your implant. Also, avoid fluoride rinses or treatments in the future. Ask your dentist about toothpaste, rinses, and flosses that are safe to use on implants.

Your dental implant can provide you with many years of attractive smiles and enhanced dental health. For more information, talk to your dentist about if dental implants are right for you.

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22 April 2022