Dental ImplantsDental Implants are an investment that can improve oral health for life. Not only do dental implants look like real teeth beautifully filling the gap in a smile, but they act like real teeth too. Dr. Smith implants a post into the jaw, and the patient’s bone grows around it, which allows for normal chewing and functioning as well as a gum line that looks natural.

With all of the benefits of implants, it’s no wonder that at Spokane Dental we have a multitude of patients with smiles restored by dental implants. Not only is it important to have a dental implant procedure performed by a proficient dentist such as Dr. Smith, it is equally important to take care of the implant properly at home after it is placed in the mouth.

Immediate home care after the procedure is vital to the success of a dental implant, but long term care can be just as imperative to oral health over a life span. When it comes to caring for dental implants, there are three big factors:

Brushing:

Brushing teeth with dental implants is no different than without. The only significant consideration is how abrasive of toothpaste used. Too abrasive toothpaste can cause scratches that can compromise the integrity of the implant, so toothpaste that is non-abrasive is recommended.

Flossing:

Flossing around an implant is a bit different than around natural teeth. We recommend a type of floss called “super floss”, that has an end to thread the floss around the implant, and the middle of the super floss is fuzzier than normal dental floss. To floss an implant, wrap the floss around the base (closest to the gums), and pull gently back and forth in a shoe-shine type motion.

The “fuzzy” part of the super floss grabs bacteria and plaque around the base of the crown and cleans it really well without being hard on the surrounding gums.

Regular Check-Ups:

Regular checkups are essential for good oral health and having implants that are healthy for years. Our hygienists at Spokane Dental are trained in how to clean implants and recommend tools or tips to help maintain dental implant health at home, and Dr. Smith performs thorough exams on the whole mouth. Without regular checkups and dental cleanings, plaque and bacteria can buildup to unhealthy levels and compromise the gums and bone surrounding implants, and problems can arise that are identified too late. Regular checkups ensure that we can treat preventively: assessing potential problems before they happen, or preventing current problems from getting worse.

Other Considerations

Every patient we see at Spokane Dental is treated as an individual, with individual oral health needs. With some implant patients, we may have other recommendations or considerations to best help their oral health. Some other home care tools we may recommend for our implant patients could include antibacterial mouth rinse or tools to help stimulate the gums such as a rubber tip.

At Spokane Dental, we have the expertise to place and care for dental implants and so much more! Give us a call today at (509)822-5614 to schedule or speak to our friendly office staff.

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