Dental Implant Care

If Dr. Kosinski has already restored your smile with dental implants, then you’re aware of the numerous benefits this treatment has to offer. Dental implants are custom-made to match the shape, size, and color of your natural teeth, so they blend in perfectly with your smile.

Unlike dentures, dental implants are a permanent part of your smile, so you’ll never have to take them out for cleaning. And because dental implants are surgically attached to your jaw, they’ll never embarrass you by shifting position or coming out while you’re talking or eating.

Choose Gentle Hygiene Products

Dental implants provide benefits you won’t get with any other type of restoration. That’s because they stimulate healthy jawbone growth and help protect you against gum disease. Dental implants also prevent your cheeks from sagging, which can seriously distort your face.

One of the greatest advantages of dental implants is that they’re easy to care for. In fact, your cleaning regimen with dental implants is almost exactly the same as it is with your natural teeth — just brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash every day.

There is one crucial difference when it comes to caring for your dental implants: It’s essential to choose gentle cleaning products that won’t damage the implant or irritate the soft tissue around its base.

Choosing the Right Toothbrush and Toothpaste

When shopping for a toothbrush, you’ll want to find one with soft or extra-soft bristles and a head that fits comfortably in your mouth. There’s been a great deal of research on which type of toothbrush is best for patients with dental implants. These studies show that you can effectively maintain your dental implants using either a manual or electric toothbrush.

It’s essential to brush for at least two minutes, making sure to go over all the exposed surfaces of your teeth. Many patients choose an electric toothbrush with a timer to remind them to brush long enough. Electric toothbrushes are also recommended for patients who have difficulty applying enough pressure on their own.

Toothpaste containing abrasive ingredients can scratch your implant and irritate the soft tissue that supports it. Ingredients you’ll want to avoid include sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride, and baking soda. You should also avoid whitening toothpaste and smoker’s toothpaste.

Choosing the Right Mouthwash

Rinsing with antibacterial mouthwash is an important part of your daily oral health regimen because it fights the bacteria that cause gum disease and tooth decay. When choosing your mouthwash, avoid teeth-whitening mouthwash and mouthwash containing alcohol. Alcohol causes dry mouth, a condition that interferes with your body’s natural ability to defend itself against dangerous bacteria.

Choosing the Right Interdental Cleaner

An interdental cleaner such as dental floss removes plaque and debris from in between your teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach. Patients with dental implants will want to choose nylon-coated floss or floss that’s designed specifically for use with dental implants. It slides more easily between your teeth and it’s more gentle on your gums.

Many patients with implants find interdental brushes to be an effective alternative to flossing. If you select an interdental brush, look for one that’s either nylon or nylon-coated. Avoid metal interdental cleaners that can damage your implants.

After Securing Your Dental Implant

Once your implant is placed, a healing period will be advised. Dr. Kosinski will instruct you to do three things:

1. A prescription for an antibiotic will be given to you in advance — start taking it the night before, until it’s completely finished.
2. We will also give you a prescription pain medication, which you can take as needed.
3. Finally, the most important thing is that you apply ice to your face. The ice will minimize swelling. If swelling stays down, your discomfort will be minimal.

What Can Influence Implant Failure?

Some implant surgeries are more complicated than others. If yours is one of those, Dr. Kosinski will tell you in advance. For example, if a nerve or muscle requires repositioning or a sinus membrane needs to be raised, we’ll let you know ahead of time in case you experience excessive discomfort, post-surgery.

Lower Jaw Concerns

One concern we advise to our patients is the possibility of damage to the mandibular nerve that can occur in the lower jaw.

The nerve runs along the side of the face, surfacing between the first and second bicuspid areas. Although it’s generally not difficult to work around this structure and avoid it altogether, the nerve can be bruised or even damaged.

The result of this is called paresthesia, also known as numbing. Your lip may feel as if you’re numb with an anesthetic temporarily, lasting anywhere from weeks to months, or even permanently.

Diagnostic tests and measurements are made to reduce this risk, including CT scans. This technology allows us to see the bone in three dimensions and then virtually place the implant using our computer software prior to ever touching you.

Other Factors of Failure

There are a number of additional factors that may influence implant failure, such as:

• Poor oral hygiene. It’s vital to brush twice a day, floss daily, and schedule regular professional cleanings and exams. Dr. Kosinski will also need to take a radiograph once a year to detect any possible bone changes.
• Smoking or use of tobacco products. Cigarette smoking reduces implant success by 50 percent and may disqualify you as a candidate for implants.