How to care for your dental implants
Now that you have dental implants, it is very important to care for them properly to ensure longevity. Specific techniques and efforts are necessary to keep implants and prostheses over implants clean and free of destructive bacteria and plaque, which can cause infection in the tissues around the implant (known as peri-implantitis or peri-implant disease) and even lead to failure. Here's what to do to keep your implants in top shape!
First of all, a dental visit and cleaning at least every 6 months is more important now than ever. At this appointment, your dentist will check for any warning signs of damage or infection. Implant recipients also play a significant role in the success of their own restoration and must be committed to taking care of their implants. Here’s how to provide the best care at home.
For single implants
Clean at least twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush
Use a low-abrasive toothpaste
Brush under and around the implant crown
Use a nylon coated interdental brush to clean hard-to-reach places
Floss daily with unwaxed tape or implant-specific floss
Use a recommended oral irrigator such as a WaterPik
For implant-supported bridges
Clean at least twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush
Use a low-abrasive toothpaste
Brush under and around the implant crown
Use a nylon coated interdental brush to clean hard-to-reach places
Floss daily with bridge- or implant-specific floss
Use a recommended oral irrigator such as a WaterPik
For fixed implant-supported dentures
Clean at least twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush
Use a low-abrasive toothpaste
Use a nylon coated interdental brush, bridge- or implant-specific floss, and/or a WaterPik to clean hard-to-reach places between the denture and your gums where food can become trapped
We recommend having the dentist inspect and clean the prosthesis every 6 months, and remove for maintenance every 12-18 months.
For removable (snap-in) implant-supported dentures
Remove denture daily and soak in specific cleaner for recommended time
Inspect o-rings, locator caps, and clips and alert your dentist if worn or missing
Gently brush the underside of the denture with a denture brush
Rinse overdenture thoroughly with water before placing it into your mouth
Talk with your dentist about replacing O-rings and locator caps once a year
Implants are a highly successful procedure despite the atypical cleaning challenges they present. The prevention of peri-implant disease is paramount to implant health and function. How you care for your implant is an important part of success.
