Missing a tooth can be a unique struggle. It’s uncomfortable when food gets into the gap between your teeth and can even increase your risk of gum disease. Missing teeth can also cause remaining teeth to shift, becoming crooked. And of course, many people feel self-conscious about showing their smile with a prominent tooth missing. Almost two-thirds of Americans have lost a tooth in adulthood. Luckily, dental implants are an excellent solution for people who want to replace a broken or missing tooth. But once you’ve received your new tooth implant, staying on top of your dental implant aftercare is essential to keep your mouth healthy.
The Benefits of Dental Implants
A dental implant is a prosthetic titanium root inserted into the jawbone with a crown or dentures attached. As your jaw bone heals around the metal, your new tooth will become as strong and natural-looking as the rest of your teeth. Dental implants are a great way to fill in your smile with a functional and durable replacement for a missing tooth, but as with any dental surgery, proper post-implant care is the key to a successful treatment. Because the jawbone needs to grow around the implant properly, patients must avoid any chance of inflammation. This makes dental implant aftercare especially important.
Dental Implant Care After Surgery
The success of dental implant surgery is primarily determined by the care you take at home. However, dental implant aftercare is relatively easy, and patients should find it a breeze to stay on top of their cleaning regimen. Here are a few tips to take care of your new dental implant:
- Brush twice daily around and underneath the implant crown using a soft-bristle toothbrush and low-abrasive toothpaste.
- Regular dental cleanings are important to keep area around implant clean and to keep gums and implant site healthy.
- Floss daily using unwaxed floss.
- An interdental brush helps clean difficult-to-reach places.
- Use an oral irrigator to clean dental plaque and food debris.
Without correct dental implant care after your surgery, you risk developing complications. Poor dental implant post-surgery care can cause peri-implantitis. This condition starts when bacteria build up around the implant, causing inflammation. Early symptoms include swollen gums and sensitivity, but as the infection progresses, the discomfort will worsen. If left untreated, peri-implantitis can damage your teeth and gums and even cause your implant to fail. However, peri-implantitis is easily treatable in its early stages and can be avoided entirely with diligent post-dental implant care.
Dental Implants Are Safe and Long-Lasting
Dental implant aftercare is straightforward and will help your implant heal without complications. You’ll no longer need to worry about your teeth shifting or a gap in your smile. Of course, even with the most diligent dental implant aftercare, you’ll still want to schedule routine check-ups with your dentist to ensure your implant is healing well. If you’re looking for the best dentist in Albany, Oregon, we’d love to welcome you to our clinic at Pinnacle Dental Associates! Whether you’re missing a tooth and need an implant or want to get settled with a dentist you can trust, we’d love to show you all that our family practice can do for you. Call us anytime!