Aftercare & Maintenance

Dental Implant Aftercare & Maintenance

Dorset Dental Implant Clinic is the go-to prosthetic and restorative dentist for dental implants, particularly full mouth reconstructions.

As you might know, dental implants are an incredibly modern and advanced way to replace missing teeth in today’s dentistry. They’re hailed for their stability, function and long-term viability.

And seeing as they work just like natural teeth, they are probably the best solution for patients wanting to replace gaps in their mouth. But what care do they need to thrive and survive?

For dental implant aftercare and maintenance, follow our post-operative instructions to ensure the long-term viability of your treatment.

Advice from Implant Dentists

Dental implants act as artificial tooth roots and look and function like natural teeth. This means they need no special attention or maintenance, so patients won’t need to follow any strict or specific advanced routine.

Instead, patients are encouraged to follow the advice given to care for natural teeth, such as brushing, flossing and booking regular hygienists and check-up appointments with their dentist.

However, immediately following implant surgery, special care might be advised here as the site fully heals and embeds into your jaw. But don’t worry; one of our dentists will tell you what to expect and any specific care plans you must follow before implant surgery.

Post-op Care and Instructions

Following post-operative instructions will be crucial for the success of your restoration.

Warm salt water mouthwashes are recommended to speed up the healing process and to help your mouth recover faster. Certain lifestyle habits might need to change, such as smoking – patients should refrain from smoking until their implant site has completely healed.

Hot foods and drinks should also be avoided for at least a day.

Looking After Your Implant Crown

Following surgery, patients are encouraged to take particular care of their new dental crown by keeping their mouth clean and following a soft food diet.

The only advice to keep your crown intact is to keep it clean. Even though crowns are actually not affected by decay, the surrounding teeth and gums can still be attacked by bacteria, which can accumulate on the crown.

Long Term Care

Things become much easier once the implant fully bonds with the bone and the crown is attached. Now that the three months of osseointegration have ended, looking after your implant involves fewer rules and specifications.

As mentioned briefly above, long-term care moving forward must involve a good oral health regimen and frequent, regular visits to the dentist to ensure your oral health is in a strong and stable condition. Your dental implants can last 30 years or more with the right care.

How to Brush Your Implant

Taking care of your implant like natural teeth, you can brush your crown twice daily for two minutes and floss. Don’t forget to brush your gums, too, as the biggest threat to the survival of implants is the onset of gum disease, or peri-implantitis, which is specific to implants.

Preventing Peri-implantitis

Get your implants cleaned bi-annually and up and above the gum line. As well as practising good oral hygiene, quitting smoking can greatly help.

What increase the risk?

• Periodontitis
• Genetics
• Occlusal overloading
• Alcohol consumption
• Nicotine consumption