Getting the Most Out of Your Dental Implants
March 26, 2018
If you have already talked to your dentist about dental implants, then you know there are a variety of benefits they bring to patients, no matter how many teeth need to be replaced or what the underlying reasons for the replacement were. Implants have been used successfully for everything from reconstructing smiles after trauma to replacing teeth lost due to advanced periodontal disease. Part of the reason they are so popular is because when they are cared for properly, implants don’t have a maximum lifespan. That means patients with a pro-active approach to oral hygiene can often go a lifetime without needing a repair or replacement.
Cleaning and Preserving Dental Implants
One of the reasons implants are so popular is because they are easy to maintain. In fact, for the most part, the steps you take to preserve your natural teeth are identical to the steps you would take to preserve implants:
- Regular brushing, flossing, and use of mouthwash to keep the gum tissue clean and free of disease and decay
- Use of mouth guards when playing contact sports
- Use of clinical treatments for bruxism, TMJ, and other oral health issues that can cause teeth grinding
If you can follow through with these easy steps, you won’t have much to worry about, because your implants don’t decay like natural teeth, so long as you keep your oral tissues healthy around them, they should stay in place and look great.
Savings Over a Lifetime
Sometimes patients worry about the cost of dental implants, but when you consider the fact that properly maintained implants are a life-long investment, it gets a lot easier to see them as a source of long-term savings. The other options for replacing teeth all have maximum lifespans that require most patients to plan on several replacements, and that needs to be considered when deciding which option provides the best outcome for your lifestyle and your health.
Contact our office today to schedule a consultation.