Out of all the dental restorative procedures available at present, dental implants remain the closest permanent replacement for your missing teeth. A well-executed dental implant looks feels and works just as similar to an original tooth. It is a surgical procedure that is performed by a dentist near you, under the influence of a local anesthetic.
Due to the quality of the materials used and the process of the titanium implant being fused to the jawbone, implants in Edmonton have a very high success rate. However, if they are not well maintained, there are ways that they can affect your dental health negatively. Therefore, it is always important to have sufficient knowledge about the procedure and follow proper maintenance techniques after. With proper maintenance and care, dental implants in Edmonton can last a lifetime.
Caring for your dental implants
Apart from your regular daily routine of brushing and flossing, it is important to introduce a good quality mouthwash to your oral hygiene habits. Use it throughout the day, especially after each meal to rinse off leftover food that can eventually help grow harmful bacterial and cause tooth decay.
Just because you receive implants, does not mean that you do not need to care for them just as much as you would care for a natural tooth – perhaps even more so! Carefully brush the area around the implant, and always keep a lookout for plaque buildup around it. Visiting your dentist in Edmonton for regular checkups and professional cleanings at least twice a year is also an essential step in your maintenance routine for dental implants.
What to do and what not to do when it comes to dental implants
What to do
- Regular professional dental checkups (At least 2-3 times a year).
- Paying extra attention to your dental implants during your daily oral hygiene routine.
- Following specific instructions your dentist provides.
Your dentist near you will give specific instructions on how to care for your dental implants in Edmonton. For example, some implants make it impossible to floss with a string, and your dentist may recommend water flossing. Always follow those recommendations.
- While dietary supplements are not highly necessary if you manage to consume wholesome and calcium-rich daily meals. If your meals lack the necessary micronutrients, it is important to speak to your doctor and take a calcium supplement. Calcium deficiency weakens the jawbone around the implant site and causes it to fail prematurely.
What not to do
- Smoking is harmful to your health in general, and it can particularly affect the healing and bonding process of a dental implant. If it is not possible to quit smoking entirely, it is important to refrain from it at least one week before the procedure, and up to 2 months after the insertion of the implant until it fully heals and fuses with the jawbone.
- Chewing tobacco has similar harmful effects as smoking. It not only slows the healing of the implant but also can lead to far more dangerous dental issues such as oral cancer later on.
- Grinding your teeth is another activity that inhibits the healing of the implant and causes damages. If you tend to do it in your sleep, you can receive a mouthguard to wear during the night time.
- Products that are used to whiten teeth may have abrasive ingredients such as baking soda that can damage your implants. Once you receive your dental implants near you, remember to ask your dentist for their recommendations on any whitening products that you have or wish to use.
