If you have just had your implant prosthesis inserted
or are considering an implant prosthesis, you may be wondering what procedures
are necessary for the proper maintenance of your new prosthesis. Well,
here's the whole story in a nutshell! The home care needed for dental
implants is probably more important than that required for your
natural teeth. The appliances that we fabricate on top of dental implants
are wonders of engineering but unfortunately, can not be designed to be
maintenance free. There are many areas around the implants and the prosthesis
that need special attention to make sure that dental plaque does not accumulate.
As with your own teeth, plaque, a sticky substance that adheres
to teeth and is a breeding area for bacteria, must be removed at least
every 12 hours to avoid potential periodontal ( peri-implant )
disease. What are the tools needed to combat peri-implant disease and
how should they be implemented.
The care of your Implant Prosthesis consists of three
steps:
Educating and training you about proper oral hygiene
techniques.
Removal of plaque and calculus (tartar) on a regularly
scheduled basis by your Hygienist.
Maintaining meticulous oral hygiene between your
recall visits.
Home plaque control is a critical
component of your implant care. The following devices have proved extremely
helpful in plaque removal and as tools in the proper maintenance of dental
implant/prostheses.
Soft Toothbrush, End Tuft Brush, Proxy Brush™v
Dental Floss( i.e. Post Care Dental Implant Floss,
SuperFloss™ )
Rotadent™
Oral Irrigation Devices ( i.e. Water Pik™)
Mouthwashes containing essential oils ( i.e. Listerine™
)
Individual Instruction sheets are available for each
of the above mentioned cleaning aids. Your dentist and hygienist are also
available to assist you in any way they can. Remember, it's not the tool
that counts, but the elbow grease behind it.
The proper maintenance of your dental implant
prosthesis must be a good blend of proper hygiene technique, appropriate
instrumentation and adequate frequency. Your hygienist will suggest a
suitable recall schedule for you based upon the complexity of your dental
restoration. She or he will also demonstrate each and every technique
so that you can become familiar with the tools that are required for implant
care. Then it's up to you. With a little effort, your dental implant prosthesis
can provide you with years of comfort, satisfaction and service.
