Dental implants are a unique

Victorville, CA

Dental implants are a unique approach to replacing missing teeth. Rather than your replacement teeth using your gums or adjacent teeth for support, ceramic crowns rely on small titanium posts that are surgically implanted directly into your jawbone. As you heal from your procedure, your bone begins to gradually fuse to the posts, a process called osseointegration. With this process, the posts are stabilized in your jaw, and they are essentially turned into roots that your crowns are attached to. Implants provide significant benefits over traditional treatments. One of these benefits is that they are much easier to take care of. Even though they are not real teeth, they still require proper cleaning. Kelly Smile Dentistry can help.

Why it Is Necessary to Clean Implants

The ceramic crowns of your dental implants may not be able to suffer decay, but they still need to be cleaned every day, even if all of your teeth have been replaced. This is because the crowns, just like your natural teeth, can collect plaque and bacteria, both of which can irritate your gums and cause gum disease. When gum disease develops and is not treated right away, the tissue begins to pull away from your crowns, letting bacteria fall below the gum line. Once there, the bacteria can attack your jawbone, weakening it. If this happens, the stability of your implants becomes compromised. They may become loose, or you may complete implant failure. Properly cleaning your dental implants is essential for preventing these issues, and more, from occurring.

Cleaning Your Implants at Home

Maintaining your dental implants, and your oral health starts with a good oral hygiene routine at home. Just like with your natural teeth, your implants should be brushed and flossed at least twice a day. Using a soft-bristled brush and toothpaste, make sure that you brush all surfaces of your teeth and your crowns. Every time you brush, you should do so for at least two minutes. You should also floss at least once a day. When flossing, carefully move the floss back and forth to work it between the teeth and your crowns. Scrape up and down the side of each tooth, real and replacement, and do not forget to floss behind the very back teeth. Both brushing and flossing are crucial for reducing plaque, and bacteria build up, helping to keep your mouth healthy and your implants strong.

How We Can Help

Even with proper daily care, issues can still occur. To optimize your oral health, and keep your dental implants strong, regular professional dental care is also needed. We can provide you with twice yearly routine cleanings and exams. With cleanings, we scrape all surfaces of your teeth and your crowns and polish them. This is done to further prevent bacteria and plaque accumulation. With exams, we can spot any potential issues with your teeth or your implants, including cracks, chips, and warning signs of gum disease. By spotting these issues early, we are then able to help you prevent more serious complications from occurring later. While caring for dental implants is not as involved in cleaning dentures, proper care is still required. Call Kelly Smile Dentistry today at (442) 229-0766 if you have any questions regarding the care of your implants.