Congratulations! You’ve just completed dental implant treatment to replace missing teeth and rebuild your beautiful smile. To ensure the longevity of your implants and the health of your smile, Drs. Clark at Hill Avenue Dental want to review the care your dental implants in Superior, WI, require.
Caring for dental implants is somewhat different than caring for natural teeth, because they attach to surrounding gum and bone tissue differently and they are obviously made of different materials.
The Structure of Dental Implants
Although the words “dental implants” are often used to refer to the entire structure that replaces a tooth, an implant is actually the portion that replaces the root parts of your teeth. Porcelain crowns, a bridge or implant-retained dentures make up the visible portion of teeth and are attached to the implants. In between these two parts is a connector that is called an abutment.
Implants are usually made of titanium, which is a metal that is biocompatible and, therefore, fuses well with the bone tissue that surrounds an implant.
Caring for Dental Implants
Drs. Clark, implant dentists in Superior, WI, know that the care given implants is just as important as that given to natural teeth. Both depend on the health of surrounding gum and bone tissue for support. Therefore, the health and longevity of dental implants often depends on maintaining the surrounding tissue.
First, plaque can collect just as easily on implant crown as it does on natural teeth. Removing this bacterial biofilm on a daily basis with flossing helps you avoid the development of an infection called peri-implantitis. This infection can interfere with the attachment that exists between the implant and bone tissue.
Similarly, it is equally important to brush your implants. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and hold the brush at a 45-degree angle to your teeth. This way you’ll be able to clean the surface of the implant crown as well as your gum tissue.
When you come to Hill Avenue Dental for a checkup, our hygienists will take extra care in order not to damage your dental implants. The instruments they use to clean the crown are made of plastics and resins that will not scratch, and the tissue around the implant is gently cleaned, too.
Call Our Office Today
To learn more about how to properly care for your dental implants, contact Hill Avenue Dental, the cosmetic dentist in Superior, WI.