Congratulations! You have a beautiful new smile thanks to dental implants. Whether you needed to replace one missing tooth or several, you can look forward to your implants providing you with years of dental security. Your new replacement is much like a natural tooth—the implants substitutes for the root and the restoration substitutes for the crown. Also like natural teeth, your dental implants need proper cleaning and care. Jacksonville implant dentist Dr. Wagner has some advice on what you can do to ensure the longevity of your implants and the health of your mouth.
Daily Oral Hygiene
Essentially, taking care of your dental implants is a lot like taking care of your own natural teeth. Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing, too, is important. When you brush and floss, be sure to pay attention to all five surfaces of the implant: the chewing surfaces, the two surfaces that are alongside adjacent teeth, and the lingual and facial surfaces.
Tools to use when cleaning your dental implants include:
- A toothbrush, manual or electric, with soft bristles
- Fluoride and tartar-control toothpaste with low abrasives
- Dental floss
Other oral hygiene aids that you may want to consider include antimicrobial mouth rinses; inter-dental brushes; and tablets that stain where there is plaque buildup.
Dental Checkups
For people who have dental implants in Jacksonville, Dr. Wagner strongly recommends sticking to a schedule of dental checkups at least every six months. The dental hygienists in our office can use special instruments to clean in the tight spaces around your implants. If there is any plaque accumulation, we have the tools to remove it without scratching the surface of the restoration. In addition, we’ll want to digital x-rays once a year to examine the portion of your implant that is hidden below the gum line.
Dental Implant Problems
Without daily oral hygiene and regular dental checkups, dental implants can develop problems. The first sign of trouble is usually bleeding around the implant. If caught early enough, this condition is treatable and reversible. However, if left untreated, then you may begin to lose bone tissue around the implant, a condition called peri-implantitis. If peri-implantitis advances and causes significant bone loss, then Dr. Wagner may need to remove your dental implant restoration.
Call Your Jacksonville Implant Dentist Today
If it’s time for your dental checkup and an examination of your dental implants, then schedule an appointment today with Dr. Wagner at Eccella. We’ll measure the depth of gum pockets around your implants, compare annual x-rays, check for looseness and make sure your dental implants are functioning properly.