Essential Dental Implant Care And Maintenance Tips

Dentist Blog

Trauma and dental diseases can lead to tooth or teeth loss in adults. A standard procedure to treat tooth loss is a dental implant, which substitutes the root of an affected tooth. A connector  -- abutment -- links the crown and they implant. Tooth implants are mainly made of titanium since the metal fuses with the bone easily. Notably, you need aftercare after a dental implant is inserted in your mouth. This article examines a few dental implant care and maintenance tips.

Infection (Peri-Implantitis) -- Cleaning teeth that are supported by implants is just as crucial as cleaning your natural teeth. Both teeth depend on adjacent tissues for support and healthy growth. However, when you skimp on cleaning implants, plaque or a bacterial biofilm develops on the crowns, which subsequently leads to an infection. For example, peri-implantitis is an infection that causes inflammation around the implant. The condition might progress rapidly and cause loss of bone near the infected implant. Eventually, bone loss might lead to the loss of the implant. Therefore, dental hygiene is key to maintaining an implant.

Professional Cleaning -- After surgery, you are required to work with a dental hygienist to keep your implant clean all the time. The reason for this is that a hygienist uses special and sterilised instruments to clean the area and prevent infection. Care should be taken not to tamper with the crown of a tooth, the abutment and the implant. Defacing or scratching the surface of an abutment or crown through abrasion can cause germs to attach to such surfaces. A dental hygienist uses special tools made of resin, plastic and nylon to reduce the likelihood of scratching the implant and the adjacent areas. Also, a deep cleaning of a tooth surface in a process known as scaling can be done to remove accumulated plaque. You can also use an oral irrigator without a metal tip for cleaning your implant.

Cleaning At Home -- Apart from professional cleaning, you still need to clean a dental implant at home. The key is to remove bacteria and food particles that tend to get stuck around the implant. Use a soft-bristled brush for cleaning, but remember to be gentle around the implant. You should consult a dental expert regarding the best option for flossing. A dental professional can recommend floss that is meant explicitly for dental implants. Apart from cleaning, remember to eat foods with fewer acids but plenty of nutrients to help in the healing process.

To learn more, contact a dentist about dental implants.

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24 July 2020

Unraveling Dental Myths about Children: A Blog for Parents

When I had my first child, I was a nervous wreck. Every book I read gave different advice, and I just wanted to be right! By the time I had my third child, some of the stress had abated. I now realised, there were tons of different perspectives on everything related to raising children including dentistry. To help parents, I have created this blog dedicated to unraveling dental myths about children. I am including posts that weigh both sides of issues such as thumb sucking, dental caries, breastfeeding, flossing and any other topic I can think of. I hope you find the information you need to unravel dental myths, but most importantly, I hope you find some peace of mind. With kids and dentistry, there can be more than one right answer, and I want you to be able to relax and go with the answer that's right for you.