How To Care for Your Dental Implants

Dental implants are revolutionary tooth replacements that have dramatically improved patient outcomes in Green Bay, WI, and across the country. Placed by Dr. Adam Pasono at Green Bay Family Dentistry, implants provide unparalleled biting and chewing and improve the durability and size of the underlying bone. To maximize their success, you should know how to care for your new teeth. Here's how.

The enemies of dental implants

A dental implant occupies the empty socket where a natural tooth once resided. Through osseointegration, the jaw bone adheres to the screw-like titanium device, thus re-creating the connection and load-bearing ability of a real tooth. According to WebMD, dental implant surgeries are successful up 98 percent of the time; plus, the jaw usually retains the replacement tooth for life.

One warning...

Your implant success relies on your oral health and jaw bone structure as determined by Dr. Pasono at Green Bay Family Dentistry. After the surgery, much depends on how well you care for your new tooth at home and your compliance with in-office cleanings and check-ups, reports Dental Economics.

Caring for dental implants

Whether you have a single-tooth dental implant or wear implant-retained dentures, here are some basics for successful care:

1. Don't smoke. Tobacco smoke disrupts the connection between your implant, the bone, and the soft tissue, too. Like a periodontal disease, peri-implantitis is a devastating infection encouraged by the toxins in cigarettes. So, see your doctor about a medically-supervised smoking cessation program.
2. Brush twice daily, taking care around implant margins where plaque and tartar collect. Floss once a day, too, as your hygienist directs. She may advise special flossing tools, a gum stimulator, a WaterPik, and more to keep your implant sites clean and healthy.
3. Avoid excessive stresses on your new teeth. If you grind your teeth, Dr. Pasono may recommend you wear a bite guard.
4. Use an anti-plaque mouth rinse to reduce harmful oral bacteria.
5. See your dentist twice a year for a check-up and hygienic dental cleaning.

Enjoy your renewed smile

Dental implants truly are amazing, and their care is simple. If you have any concerns about oral hygiene and dental implants, please contact Dr. Pasono and his team at Green Bay Family Dentistry in Green Bay, WI. We'll be happy to help. Phone (920) 432-8492.