You've made a great decision about your oral health. You received two dental implants to replace teeth lost in a car accident. Your dentist, Dr. Adriana Torena, wants you to care for those new teeth at home. Her team at Allure Dental Group in Bridgeport, CT, tells you how.
Dental implants are unique tooth replacements
In fact, they are the only dental prosthetics that bond to your jaw and actually improve the quality, size, and shape of the bone which supports your teeth. Implants accomplish osseointegration because of the affinity human bone cells have for natural titanium, the main component of your dental implants.
Whether a patient has one implant to replace a single tooth or multiples to support dentures, dental implants require diligent care at home every day. Good care is critical to osseointegration and to long-term retention and function of your new teeth.
Recommendations from your friends at Allure Dental Group
Dr. Torena and her team ask their Bridgeport dental implant patients to see them twice a year for a professional cleaning and check-up. However, most of the supportive care for these tooth replacements comes from the patients themselves on a daily basis.
Here's what you should know:
- Dental implant crowns (the part above the gum line) are plaque-resistant. However, soft tissue infections can develop if you do not remove plaque. As such, twice-daily brushing and once-daily flossing are musts. Your dental hygienist will show you the best tools--oral irrigators, implant floss, and small inter-proximal brushes. Consistently used, these implements remove copious amounts of bacteria-rich plaque and prevent the formation of tartar.
- Limit the significant stresses of biting and chewing by wearing a custom-made bite guard if you have a habit called bruxism, or teeth clenching and grinding.
- Stop smoking. The heat from cigarette smoke sears the tender gum attachments associated with dental implants. Tobacco and nicotine also slow down the healing process, micro-circulation, and the production of saliva. Saliva is a necessary and very powerful antibacterial and rinses agent for your teeth (including implants) and gums.
- Drink as much water as possible throughout your day.
- Continue with a healthy diet, low in processed carbohydrates and high in fiber, protein, and low-fat dairy products.
Enjoy your new teeth
With your good care and the help of Dr. Adriana Torena and her staff, you'll enjoy your dental implants for years and years--even the rest of your life indicates the Institute for Dental Implant Awareness (IDIA).
For more information, on best hygiene practices, please contact Allure Dental Group in Bridgeport, CT at (203) 368-9016.