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How Do I Properly Take Care of My Dental Implants?

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When considering dental implants, good health, healthy gums and substantial bone support is essential. These factors directly contribute to the start of success for an implant. Post-operative success of an implant is determined by practicing good oral hygiene.

Dental implants come in parts. They have a crown that may be screwed or cemented to the titanium screw that is placed in the gums of a patient’s mouth. The crown is customized to match the color and shape preference of a natural tooth. Since your implant looks and acts like a natural tooth, you want to treat it as so by regularly practicing healthy oral habits!

Recommendations

More often than not, dental implants are successful. There are extra steps you should follow to ensure success of your implant and to make your implant last as long as possible.
·Practice and maintain good oral hygiene – brush twice a day and floss once daily. Using interdental brushes, brushes that slide between teeth, can help clean the hard to reach areas around your implant. Hydro-flossers are also helpful for cleaning those hard to reach areas.
· Quit smoking – Smoking has the potential to can weaken the bone structure and can result in implant failure.
·Visit your dentist regularly – Regular cleanings and exams can help ensure your implant is in good condition, and that it remains in good condition.
·Be careful chewing on hard foods– Overly hard foods such as ice and hard candy has the potential to break the crown that is connected to your implant.

Regardless if implants are made up of titanium, this does not mean they are invincible. They are capable of failing if they are not taken care of properly. Implants are susceptible to infection, may become loose and may need to be removed if they are not cared for correctly. Patients who have dental implants must care for them the way they are meant to care for their natural teeth. By taking proper care of an implant, this can ensure that the implant will be successful.

Contact Us

If you have received implants and are still looking for a regular dentist or are interested in dental implants, please do not hesitate to come see us at Costa Family & Cosmetic Dentistry! Our dentists are committed to ensuring success of your dental implants and oral hygiene. We look forward to meeting you soon. For your convenience, we are located in Ashburn, VA and Great Falls, Virginia.