Caring for Dental Implants

The dental implant procedure is typically lengthy and costly, so it is vitally important to take care of your investment through proper dental and oral hygiene. The highly knowledgeable staff at Island Family Dental in Vancouver WA office are happy to provide you with information for caring for your dental implant at home We also highly recommend regular dental checkups and cleanings, especially post-op during the healing process.

Proper dental implant care helps to prevent:

• Mucositis, or Inflammation of the gums
• Potential Bone loss
• Damage to the implant or crown

Your normal oral care routine will typically remain unchanged after a dental implant, although it will be exceptionally important to maintain an impeccable routine; tooth brushing, flossing, rinsing with antibiotic solutions and potentially cleaning with interdental devices all will help keep your dental implant clean and bacteria-free.

Oral Care after a Dental Implant

Titanium implants are porous, which creates a perfect environment for bacteria and plaque to grow and accumulate. It is therefore crucial to provide thorough care for dental implants in order to avoid the need for any additional procedures. Each patient’s needs are unique, and we work with each of our patients to formulate a dental care plan specifically tailored to meet individual needs. These may include:

• A combination of manual and power tooth brushing
• Using of interdental systems
• Rotary motion gum massagers
• An antimicrobial or antibacterial pre- and post-brushing rinse
• An array of plaque removal techniques

Ongoing Maintenance for Dental Implants

In addition to proper oral hygiene, it is recommended to have a professional cleaning every six months.

During your dental visit, your post-operation oral health will be examined and monitored visually and through x-rays to ensure that all the implant and underlying structures are healthy. If any issues or concerns arise, we will be able to address and treat them right away.

With proper care, the success rate for maintaining dental implants long-term is 95 percent. Contact Island Family Dental in Vancouver WA to schedule a free dental implant consultation or ask us any questions you have about the procedure. We will be happy to assist you!