How Can I Make Sure My Dental Implants Are Successful?

Dental implants are the most ideal form of tooth replacement available because they look just like real teeth and imitate their structure from root to crown. They can restore your ability to bite and chew, restore your smile after tooth loss, and preserve or improve the health of your jawbone. Incredibly, dental implants boast a success rate of over 95%, and there are things you can do to help your implants heal fully and last for decades. Here are a few best practices for dental implant care so you can keep yours for a lifetime.

Continue to Practice Proper Oral Hygiene

Dental implants need healthy gums in order to be placed, and they need the gums to stay that way if they are to heal properly. Excellent oral hygiene is the most important part of keeping your teeth and gums healthy, and dental implants require exactly the same daily care as real teeth to prevent infection. A proper daily oral hygiene routine includes brushing twice, flossing once, and using antibacterial mouthwash. This will eliminate plaque and food debris while keeping the populations of harmful bacteria in your mouth low. It’s also key for your oral health to see your dentist regularly.

Follow Your Postoperative Instructions

After receiving your dental implants, your oral surgeon will provide you with postoperative instructions and prescriptions. It’s important to follow these instructions to the letter and take all medications as prescribed to help your implants heal properly. It’s best to know the instructions well before the day of the surgery so you can stock up on supplies and mild foods for while you are recovering.

Kick the Tobacco Habit

Tobacco use is terrible for your oral health and the leading culprit behind dental implant failure. Dental implants require healthy gums, and chewing or smoking tobacco exposes your gums to harmful chemicals that weaken them over time and make it harder for them to heal and fight infection. It’s best to quit smoking a few months before dental implant surgery so your gums have time to recover, and it’s crucial to abstain from smoking for another few months afterward while the implants are still healing. Also worth noting is that if have to quit smoking for so many months, why not just quit altogether?

Dental implants are an excellent way to restore a smile after tooth loss. By keeping these practices in mind, you can help make sure that your implants heal thoroughly and last for many years.

About the Author

Dr. Steven E. Amburgey graduated from WVU Dental School in 2005 and worked as an associate until 2012. He is proud to be a member of the American Dental Association and the Virginia Dental Association. His office in Abingdon, VA offers general, cosmetic, restorative, and emergency dentistry in addition to dental implant services. For more information on caring for your dental implants, contact his office online or dial (276) 258-5568.