Dental Implants

Dental implants are an alternative to missing teeth. If you are missing a permanent tooth or have gaps in your smile, or wear dentures and experience some of the following problems:

  • Slipping and clicking while talking?
  • Irritation and pain when you chew?
  • Fear of eating in public?
  • Feeling or looking older than your age?

You may be a candidate for dental implants. Dental implants use your jaw to hold a tooth replacement or bridge, rather than anchoring it to a healthy, neighboring tooth. The results are natural-looking teeth implants that look, feel and function as your own.

If you have just had your implant prosthesis inserted or are considering implant prosthesis, you may be wondering what procedures are necessary for proper maintenance. The home care needed for dental implants is just as important as that required for your natural teeth. There are many areas around the implants and the prosthesis that needs special attention to make sure that dental plaque does not accumulate. As with your own teeth, plaque, a sticky substance that adheres to teeth and is a breeding area for bacteria, must be removed at least every 12 hours to avoid potential periodontal (peri-implant) disease.

The proper maintenance of your dental implant prosthesis must be a good blend of proper hygiene technique and using appropriate instrumentation. We will suggest a suitable recall schedule for you based upon the complexity of your dental restoration. We will also demonstrate each and every technique so that you can become familiar with the devices that are required for implant care.

The care of your Implant Prosthesis consists of three steps:

  • Educating and training you about proper oral hygiene techniques.
  • Removal of plaque and calculus (tartar) on a regularly scheduled basis by your hygienist.
  • Maintaining meticulous oral hygiene between your recall visits.

Home plaque control is a critical component of your implant care. The following devices have proved to be extremely helpful in plaque removal:

  • Soft Toothbrush
  • Dental Floss (i.e. Post Care Dental Implant -Superfloss)
  • Electric Toothbrushes
  • Oral Irrigation Devices (i.e. Water Pik)
  • Mouthwash