Even though dental implants have a very high success rate of 95 percent, it’s still important to take whatever steps you can to prevent them from failing. Properly caring for your dental implants can go a long way toward ensuring that they last as long as possible. If you want to minimize the chances of dental implant failure occurring, it’s highly recommended that you follow these 5 simple tips.
1. Practice Excellent Oral Hygiene
If you don’t keep the area around your dental implants clean, it can result in the buildup of plaque and tartar. This, in turn, can lead to gum disease, which happens to be the leading cause of dental implant failure. As such, maintaining optimal oral hygiene is essential for protecting your newly rebuilt smile. Remember to brush and floss at least two times a day, and don’t forget to give your dental implants and the area around them the same attention as your natural teeth.
2. Be Careful with Hard Foods
Even the sturdiest dental implant could break if you put too much pressure on it. You therefore need to be very careful when it comes to chewing hard foods such as carrots or apples. To stay on the safe side, it’s generally best to cut these foods into bite-sized pieces before you eat them.
3. Don’t Bite Down on Inedible Objects
Just like your natural teeth, dental implants are meant for chewing food. Using them to bite down on inedible objects could ultimately damage them. Thus, to protect your implant posts, you should make an effort to avoid chewing on anything that’s not meant to be eaten, such as your fingernails or the end of a pen. Furthermore, if you’re having trouble opening a package, you should resist the temptation to use your teeth; look for scissors instead.
4. Take Steps to Address Bruxism
Some people involuntarily grind or clench their teeth while they’re asleep due to bruxism. This condition can put unnecessary pressure on your dental implants, making them more likely to fail. Luckily, you can protect your implant posts and the rest of your smile from the worst effects of bruxism by wearing a customized nightguard.
5. Remember to Visit Your Dentist
You should already be making a point of visiting your dentist at least once every six months. These biannual appointments become all the more important once you have dental implants placed. Your dentist can check on your implant posts to make sure they’re still in good shape. That way, any problems that might be developing can be identified and dealt with before they can lead to dental implant failure.
By following the tips above and keeping an eye out for potential signs of failure, you can keep your dental implants safe and make it more likely that they will be able to last for many years to come.
About the Author
Dr. Molly Burton has been helping patients maintain excellent smiles for over a decade. She earned her dental degree at the University of Louisville, and she has received advanced training in dental implant placement. She’s proud to be able to offer start-to-finish dental implant procedures at Magnolia Family Dentistry of Austin. If you’re interested in rebuilding your smile with sturdy implant posts, schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Burton by visiting her website or calling (512) 441-2098.