Dental implants are a reliable option to replace missing teeth. A dental implant is made from a titanium screw that is attached to the jawbone. The screw acts as the tooth root, and it supports the crown. Dental implants allow you to chew your food correctly and help you maintain proper jawbone health. Additionally, they align your teeth and improve your appearance.
When you take excellent care of your dental implants, they can serve you for up to thirty years. Your dentist will give you some aftercare instructions for the implant procedure. However, there are some risks associated with the implants. These include infections, implant failure, gum recession, and bone loss.
These issues can cause the implants to fail. Dental implant complications sometimes result in severe oral health complications. Fortunately, most dental implant issues are avoidable. Knowing how to care for your implants from the start ensures you get the best long-term results.
The following are some ways in which you can avoid issues with your dental implants:
Choose the Right Dentist for the Procedure
Replacing missing teeth with a dental implant is a complex procedure. The dentist you choose for the procedure can determine its outcome. A professional dentist will ensure you receive the best possible care. This will reduce your risk of complications. An experienced dentist will assess your oral health before recommending surgery.
Also, they will use advanced imaging technology. These tools help to design the most stable placement of the implant. This ensures that the implants serve the intended purpose and are not flawed. Before you decide on a dentist, you should know whether they are qualified to perform your implant.
Also, you can ask the dentist about their duration of practice. Knowing how long they have performed the procedures can help you gauge their experience. You can also look for online reviews of their practice and ask for referrals from former patients.
Maintain Excellent Oral Hygiene
Implants do not decay like natural teeth. However, you can suffer from infection in the surrounding gums and teeth. Poor oral hygiene can lead to infection and peri-implantitis. This is a condition similar to gum disease. Peri-implantitis can cause bone loss and implant failure when left untreated. After a dental implant, your dentist recommends returning to your daily oral hygiene routines.
This includes brushing your teeth at least twice daily and flossing regularly. Brushing removes food particles that are stuck to the tooth surface. If you do not brush your teeth correctly, tartar and plaque can accumulate. Dentists recommend that you use a soft-bristle toothbrush to clean your teeth. Stiff bristles can injure the gums and cause bleeding.
Also, you should use a non-abrasive toothpaste to avoid damaging the implant. You should pay special attention to cleaning around the implant crown and gum line. You should also floss regularly to help remove food particles between the teeth. If you are flossing after dental implants, choose a special flosser designed for implants.
Using mouthwash to rinse the mouth may also help your dental health. The mouthwash has antimicrobial agents added to protect against bacteria. Regular brushing and flossing do not remove plaque and tartar. Therefore, you should make regular appointments. During these appointments, you can undergo professional cleaning. Caring for your teeth consistently helps prevent infection.
Attend Regular Dental Checkups
Your dental visits should not end after the dental implant procedure. You should make follow-up dental visits after an implant procedure. By seeing your dentist regularly, you can prevent many dental implant issues. The dentist will assess the implants' healing progress during these visits. Your dentist will use X-rays to check the condition of your implants.
Additionally, the dentist can check for potential complications and treat them before they worsen. Even if your implants feel fine, you may have hidden issues that could go unnoticed. These include gum inflammation, bone loss, and loosening of the crown.
At your dental checkup, your dentist can clean around the implant area carefully. An uneven bite can cause pain and discomfort to the implant and surrounding teeth. Your dentist will correct your bite during your appointment.
Avoid Smoking and Tobacco Use
Tobacco is harmful to your oral health. Before and after your dental implant surgery, your dentist can recommend that you avoid smoking. The nicotine in tobacco products can cause the following issues:
- Reduce oxygen and blood flow. Smoking lowers the flow of oxygen and blood to the gums. This can affect your recovery because the gums do not receive proper nutrients.
- Weakens the immunity. Tobacco can weaken your immune system. Individuals who have weak immunity are more susceptible to infections.
- Impaired bone growth. The components of tobacco can impact bone growth. Your jawbone needs to be healthy for it to integrate with the implant. Therefore, smoking can cause your dental implants to fail. In this case, you will need additional surgical procedures to correct it.
Protect Your Implants from Excessive Force
Dental implants look and function like natural teeth. Therefore, applying excessive pressure on them can damage them. You are at an increased risk of developing dental implant issues if you grind and clench your teeth at night. In this case, your dentist may recommend a custom night guard.
The protective device prevents stress on implants and natural teeth while you sleep. Also, you should avoid using your natural teeth or implants as tools. The following acts can damage the implant or cause a failure in the procedure:
- Opening bottles
- Tearing packages
- Biting hard objects
You should avoid chewing or biting on hard foods after your implant procedure. Extreme pressure can increase the wear and tear of your dental implants. When you avoid excessive pressure, your implants can be stable and durable. Avoiding excessive force on your implants and maintaining a healthy diet during healing all contribute to their recovery.
Watch Your Diet
After a dental implant surgery, your mouth may feel swollen or uncomfortable. Your dentist will recommend the correct diet. It ensures that you receive the proper nutrients. Immediately after the procedure, you should eat soft, healthy foods like yoghurt, mashed potatoes, and smoothies.
Also, you should avoid hard and sticky foods like sweets and chocolates. These foods can damage the implant. In addition to taking a balanced diet, you should stay hydrated. Water helps to rinse harmful bacteria from your mouth and ensures you do not have a dry mouth.
After your implants have integrated correctly, you can slowly return to your regular diet. Sometimes, dentists recommend that you limit your alcohol intake since it can irritate the implant site and cause it to fail. Before leaving the dental office after the implant procedure, you should discuss the right diet choices with the dentist.
Manage Underlying Health Conditions
Some health conditions can affect implant success. These include:
- Diabetes
- Osteoporosis
- Autoimmune disorders
These conditions may interfere with healing. Additionally, they increase the risk of infection. However, patients with autoimmune conditions can still have successful implants with proper management. If you have diabetes, you must maintain stable blood sugar levels. Poorly controlled diabetes can slow healing and increase the chance of gum infections.
Bone health is also critical when recovering from a dental implant procedure. Conditions like osteoporosis can weaken bone density. This makes it harder for the implant to fuse. Your dentist may recommend bone grafting to strengthen the jawbone before surgery. You should notify your dentist if you are taking medications for another condition. These drugs can affect bone healing. You should work closely with your dentist and healthcare provider if you have underlying health issues.
Know the Signs of Implant Problems
Even with the best care, issues can sometimes develop after a dental implant. You can avoid severe complications by looking out for the early signs of complications. You should notice changes in your gums' color, shape, or texture. Healthy gums should look firm and pink. You may have issues with your implants if the gums look swollen or red. You should consult your dentist if you notice the following signs:
- Persistent pain or swelling around the implant
- Bleeding gums
- Loose implant crowns.
Dental implants should be stable like natural teeth. Therefore, loosening may signify implant failure. Pus or unusual discharge near the implant may also indicate complications. Your dentist will assess your symptoms and determine whether you have a problem.
They may recommend a treatment method so that the issue does not worsen. Early intervention may save the implant and prevent further damage. Some signs of implant failure are not noticeable until it is too late. However, a dentist can detect them during routine checks.
Adopt Healthy Habits
You should not stop caring for your dental implants after recovering. You can avoid issues with the implants by adopting healthy habits. If you avoided smoking during the recovery period, you should continue with the healthy habit. Also, you should create a dental hygiene routine and not deviate from it. Dental implants can last up to thirty years if you stick to healthy habits.
Follow Post-Surgery Instructions
After your dental implant procedure, your dentist will give you some aftercare instructions. You can avoid issues with your implants if you follow these instructions carefully. They include:
- Rest. After an implant procedure, you should rest for 24 to 72 hours. Allowing your body to rest can speed up the healing.
- Pain management. You may experience mild pain and discomfort after placement of the implants. Therefore, your dentist can recommend taking over-the-counter pain relievers to manage the pain.
- Oral hygiene. Your dentist will guide you on how to clean around the implant area. You should follow these instructions to avoid gum injuries. Return to normal activities. After your implants have fused properly, you can return to regular activity, including diet.
Use the Right Oral Care Tools
Dental implants need gentle care. You can damage the implants when you use the wrong tools to clean them. You should always use a soft-bristle toothbrush when cleaning your implants. It cleans well without scratching the implant crown. Your dentist can recommend using an electric toothbrush with a gentle mode.
Some whitening products or baking soda can wear down the surface. Therefore, you should stick to a non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste instead. Flossing is essential after a dental implant procedure. It helps in dislodging food particles from between the teeth. But regular floss can hurt your gums and leave broken pieces. It is best to use an implant-safe floss or a water flosser.
Ensure Proper Bite Alignment
Your bite can affect the durability of your dental implants. An uneven bite can put extra pressure on the implants. This can cause bone loss or even implant failure. You could avoid issues with your implants by ensuring that your bite aligns correctly. Your dentist will check your bite after implant surgery. Some oral health issues can impact your bite, including teeth grinding or clenching. Therefore, you will need regular dental checkups if you have these issues.
During these checkups, your dentist can adjust your implant crown to ensure a good fit. The dentist can make small changes to keep pressure even. If you grind your teeth, you may need a night guard. It protects your implant and your natural teeth. After your implant procedure, you should look for signs of improper bite alignment. They include jaw pain and uneven chewing.
Find Expert Dental Care Near Me
Dental implants are a good tooth replacement for patients who want a natural-looking option. The implants can serve you for up to thirty years. However, you must take good care of them to improve their durability. Following the correct care instructions can help prevent complications. Common issues with dental implants include infection, implant failure, and damage to surrounding teeth.
You can avoid issues with your implants by choosing the right dentist for the procedure. Also, you should practice excellent oral hygiene. After the implants have healed, you should avoid harmful habits like smoking. Protecting your implants from excess force can also support the healing process. If you have underlying medical conditions, they affect your implants.
Therefore, you should address them before the implant procedure. Your oral health is a sensitive part of your overall well-being. Thus, you should seek professional dental services. At La Puente Advanced Dentistry, we offer safe and effective dental implant services. Call us at 626-626-7075 from La Puente, CA to schedule your appointment.
