Hygiene for Dental Implants
Primary Resource
We'd like to thank Dr. Lee Fitzgerald for serving as the primary resource for this article on hygiene for dental implants. Dr. Lee Fitzgerald's Dental Implant Center is located in Plano, TX, just north of Dallas. His office services patients from all over the metroplex and the southeast.
Dental cleanings are important for everyone, but especially for patients with dental implants. Implants are a valuable investment in long-term oral health and beauty. Protecting the investment you made in your dental implants is an important part of ensuring the longevity of your beautiful smile. Professional dental hygiene is the way to accomplish this.
Cleaning Frequency
Following your dental implant surgery, it is recommended that you have your
teeth professionally cleaned every three months in the first year. Following the first year, the
recommendation is to have them cleaned every 3-6 months.
Why do your teeth have to be cleaned so often? The gum tissue surrounding an implant requires specialized care to maintain optimal health and provide a lasting, protective bond with the replacement teeth. In order to insure that the bond stays strong, a comprehensive cleaning is important.
In addition to regular cleaning appointments, your dental implant dentist may also remove the implant crowns every few years for additional cleaning, then they will re-attach them during the same appointment.
Tools and Technology
The hygienist will use state-of-the-art tools to gently clean your dental
implant restorations, as well as your natural teeth. Removing plaque, tartar,
and hardened food particles deters decay and prevents gum disease, a
destructive bacterial infection that can compromise the longevity of dental
implants and lead to decreased oral and overall health.
With appropriate cleaning your dental implants will not only look their best, but they will also last longer.