Q&A: Caring For Dental Implants

If you’re thinking about replacing missing teeth with dental implants, you may find that you feel completely certain about the benefits associated with this tooth replacement solution. However, there may be other aspects of implants that cause you to feel somewhat worried about giving us a final, “yes” to move ahead with treatment. In many cases, patients are simply concerned that the future dental hygiene requirements will become too complex or time consuming. Rest easy – caring for your smile will remain straightforward and simple.

Questions And Answers: Implant Care

Question: Why do I need to care for my dental implants? Can’t I just clean my natural teeth and skip the artificial ones?

Answer: The reason your implants require cleaning is not to avoid tooth decay (since they are not made of natural tissue, cavities will not form) – however, they will need cleaning. Why? Well, they have been implanted into natural gum and jaw tissue. To keep those tissues healthy, you need to keep every single portion of your smile free of plaque and debris to prevent problems like gum disease that can negatively affect your implants and entire smile.

Question: Will I need to buy special products to care for my implants differently than for my natural teeth?

Answer: No, in most cases your soft-bristle toothbrush and the dental floss you use on your natural teeth will be sufficient. We may speak with you about accessories that can offer ease of care. However, any investment you choose to make in new products will be minimal.

Question: Should I brush and floss more often? Can you show me how to keep my implants clean?

Answer: No, you should continue brushing twice a day and flossing once (unless we suggest otherwise). We will, of course, be happy to demonstrate the best way to keep your smile and dental implants clean.