Tips for the maintenance of dental implants

Good maintenance of dental implants is essential for them to last a lifetime. The first thing to keep in mind is that each case is different, and it is best to let our dentist advise us on the specific care that our implants require.

Why is each case different? Because there are many factors that influence our oral health, not only the fact that we have an implant. Our dental hygiene habits, our general health, our diet, and even genetic factors influence the state of our mouth, and therefore we must take everything into account to take care of our implants and make them work and be perfectly preserved throughout life.

Even so, there are some tips to keep in mind if you have dental implants. Because, although implants do not suffer caries like natural teeth, they can be affected, for example, by inflammation or infection of the gums, loss of bone mass, or even loosening due to use or the passage of time. In all cases, prevention is essential to avoid future complications.

Revisions are essential

It is true that all of us dentists insist a lot on checkups, but we do it for good reasons.

To begin with, it is necessary to carry out a regular control not only of the conservation of the implant, but also of the gums, mucous membranes and bone, with X-rays if necessary.

Thus, periodontal diseases are a common cause of tooth loss, and must be well controlled once these pieces have been replaced by implants.

For this reason, the revision is usually accompanied by dental hygiene performed by a specialist, since it is necessary to clean the tartar and bacterial plaque accumulated around the implant, both above and below the gum line.

On the other hand, implants can loosen, either by use or simply by the passage of time. This is easily detected and solved in a revision, it only has to be cleaned and repositioned. If this is not done, the mobility of the implant, however small or bearable it may seem to us, can lead to problems in its functionality or duration.

Oral hygiene at home… and at work!

Good oral hygiene habits are always important, but even more so with dental implants, as they will have a decisive influence on long-term preservation.

Above all, oral hygiene should not be neglected when eating out or at work. The best thing to do is to always have a small toothbrush and toothpaste kit at hand, either in your purse, briefcase or at the workplace.

When it comes to cleaning, we recommend that you follow these 7 simple tips to take care of your dental implants and your mouth in general. In addition, consult your dentist about the most suitable toothbrush, mouthwash, interdental brush, toothpaste and brushing techniques for your specific case.

Pay attention to small symptoms

Most often, potential problems that may affect dental implants are asymptomatic, i.e. they do not cause pain or other noticeable symptoms. That is why regular check-ups are important.

But, sometimes, we can notice a slight sagging of the gums, a little mobility in the implanted piece or an increase in sensitivity when we eat or drink something very cold or very hot. In these cases, and even if it does not bother us too much or we do not notice pain, it is best to go to our dentist for a checkup, as these small symptoms can become complicated and bring us problems in the long run.

Dental implants are a big step forward in the health and general wellbeing of the people who have them, but they are also an investment and an effort to go through the intervention. For this reason, it is worth taking care of them and providing them with the attention they require, so that they last and function perfectly for life.