Expert Advice from a Dental Implant Dentist

While diligent oral hygiene and professional dental care allow you to keep your smile for a lifetime, sometimes your teeth can’t keep up. If you have lost one or more teeth to injury or disease, dental implants from Humber Valley Dental in Bolton, Ontario, can rejuvenate your smile and oral health.

A dental implant is a titanium post securely “rooted” in the jawbone to replace a lost tooth. When expertly placed, your dental implant should support your smile for life. However, while dental implants are made to last, you should take optimal care to extend their longevity. Drs. Geeta Gautham, David Ma, and Ammar Taimish share handy tips on maintaining dental implants.

Dental implants maintenance

As mentioned, the dental implant is made from titanium. Since titanium is metal, it can’t suffer from cavities and decay like the natural tooth. But without proper care, the tissues surrounding the implant can deteriorate, causing implant failure. 

Please follow the tips below to keep your implant-based restorations healthy and beautiful.

Real Patients – Real Results

Stick to post-operative instructions

Immediately after implant surgery, your dentist will give instructions on maintaining your dental implants. You should follow these directions to the letter to avoid compromising your restoration — if something isn’t clear, seek further guidance from your dentist. 

After implant surgery, you’ll experience mild pain, bruising, and swelling. We’ll recommend ice packs to manage your swelling. If we prescribe medications, take them as per the recommended dosage. It’s crucial not to discontinue medication, especially antibiotics, even if your symptoms improve.

Also, try not to disturb your wound with your tongue or finger. This could dislodge the clot or infect the implant. Furthermore, observe optimal oral hygiene to prevent peri-implantitis (implant infection). Rinse your mouth with warm, salty water in the first few days. After that, you can brush your teeth normally, but avoid the implant site until your dentist says otherwise. 

Lastly, avoid tobacco use because it slows healing and can cause implant failure.

Taking care of your implant-based restorations after healing

Implant care doesn’t stop after your gums heal — you should continue caring for your restorations to extend their longevity and keep your dental health in great shape. Luckily, taking care of dental implants isn’t cumbersome.

Follow these simple steps, and your implants will support your smile for many years:

• Brush twice daily
• Floss at least once daily
• Consider using an alcohol-free antimicrobial mouthwash
• Use a customized mouthguard if you’re a chronic tooth grinder or active in sports
• Avoid using your teeth as tools, such as for opening bottles
• Adhere to bi-annual dental implants

Want to learn more about dental implants, including maintenance? Please call (289) 536-4498 to talk to the team at Humber Valley Dental.

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