How to clean your dental implants like a pro – Next Smile
How long will my dental implants last? We hear this question so often. To ensure that your new, teeth last as long as possible, good care is important. But how can you clean your implants and dentures optimally? NextSmile spoke with Dr. Wilson, an expert in dental implants. And here we will tell you how you can clean your implants like a professional!
The Key facts:
- Dental implants need to be cleaned regularly to avoid bacterial inflammation around the implant.
- The greatest danger to the retention of dental implants is peri-implantitis (similar to periodontitis on natural teeth).
- Cleaning your implants requires experience and requires special procedures. Prophylactic staff in the dental practice will clean implants with special aids.
Why do dental implants and dentures need to be cleaned?
With regular prophylaxis at the dentists, chronic inflammation and its accompanying symptoms are recognized early. The professional removal of bacterial deposits on the implant surface is an important part. Thus, the cleaning process done by the specialists should take place regularly. Part of this regular appointment should also be the examination and documentation of the jawbone condition.
Modern prophylaxis concepts include an individual health plan for teeth and dentures. The goal: to recognize potential risks early, to avoid diseases and to keep the often expensive dentures intact for as long as possible.
These factors are critical to long-term success of dental implants:
- The prosthetic restoration should be of high quality.
- The implant must grow in healthy and without inflammation.
- The teeth must remain healthy.
- The diet should be balanced and healthy.
- Best not to smoke!
However, risks and complications can also arise if you neglect your regular check-ups in the dental practice and/or your oral hygiene.
Peri-implantitis puts the dental implant at risk
Peri-implantitis, the inflammation and loss of bone around the implant, is similar to the periodontitis on the natural tooth. Both diseases are caused by bacteria. Thus, an untreated periodontitis may also pose risks for an implant.
In peri-implantitis, just as in periodontal disease, the jawbone recesses. The implant loses its hold and loosens. In fact, peri-implantitis is the most common cause of implant loss. If you notice one of the following warnings, you should make an appointment with the dentist immediately.
- Severe bleeding during teeth cleaning
- Pus formation around the dental implant
- Reddish colored gums around the implant