DENTAL IMPLANT MAINTENANCE

CARING FOR YOUR DENTAL IMPLANTS

It’s important to keep your implant clean just like your natural teeth. The cleaning variations between dental implants and natural teeth can be attributed to the following reasons:

  • The differences in the way dental implants and natural teeth attach to the gums and surrounding bone.
  • The contrast between natural teeth and the materials used to construct dental implants.
THE BENEFITS OF DENTAL IMPLANTS

KEEP YOUR TEETH AND IMPLANTS HEALTHY

DENTAL IMPLANT MAINTENANCE

PDM_Hispanic-Couple-Sits-on-Front-Porch18Even though dental implants look and function just like natural teeth, there are some key differences between dental implants and your real teeth when it comes to caring for them. If you undergo a dental implant procedure with Dr. A. J. Boyajian, you may notice that your dental hygienist will use special instruments that are different from those used to clean your natural teeth. The cleaning process is different for the following reasons:

1. Differences in the way the dental implant and teeth are attached to the gums and surrounding bone.
2. The contrast between natural teeth and the materials used to construct dental implants.

DENTAL IMPLANT ATTACHMENT

Dental implants are comprised of three key parts: the titanium or ceramic implant, the abutment, and the tooth-colored crown. Once the implant is placed, the titanium or ceramic portion begins to integrate with the bone through a process known as osseointegration. This process stops right above the bone and is where the abutment contacts the gum tissue. Dr. Boyajian often uses a connective tissue that is composed of collagen for support. These fibers run parallel to the implant and end at the top of the bone, helping to hold the gum tissues securely against the surface of the implant.

NATURAL TEETH ATTACHMENT

The root of the tooth is affixed to a bony socket by a periodontal ligament. This ligament is made up of tiny fibers that are embedded into the bone on one side and to the root of the tooth on the other. The fibers above the bone are attached from the tooth into the gum tissue. The periodontal ligament transports more blood because of its greater blood vessel capacity, and this is needed to deliver nutrients and cells to the treated area and ward off infection. By their nature, implants do not have this attachment.

PREVENTING PERI-IMPLANTITIS

When you get dental implants from a restorative dentist, you need to take good care of them in the same way that you would your natural teeth. Good oral hygiene practices are essential for the long-term success of your implants. Like natural teeth, your dental implants depend on healthy gum tissue for support. If you do not remove the daily build-up of plaque from the implant crowns, an infection called peri-implantitis can develop and cause loss of attachment. This infection can be dangerous and will rapidly destroy the tissue. Peri-implantitis results in bone loss around the dental implant and can lead to tooth loss.

Want to learn more tips on taking care of your dental implants? Ask the expert in dental implantology. Dr. Boyajian has extensive training in implant placement and restoration. After completing his fellowship in implantology, Dr. Boyajian has gone on to place thousands of successful implants for over 15 years. Call Dr. Boyajian, the dental implant dentist, for your consultation today!