Got dental implants? What about now?

Learn about all the care you should take.

The best way to keep your dental implants in perfect condition and lasting is through proper maintenance.

Factors related to your daily oral hygiene and the maintenance in the dental office determine the durability of your treatments. The bacteria that accumulate next to the implants cause inflammation of the tissues that surround it, and can even lead to the destruction of the bone that holds the implant.

These infections do not hurt and, silently, can lead to loss of the implant(s). Only specialized oral health professionals with training in this area are qualified to detect the problems that may arise with your implants and act early enough to solve them.

What problems can arise?

The accumulation of bacterial plaque (a matrix of bacteria with decomposing food) next to the implants and gums, can cause:

MUCOSITIS

• Inflammation and bleeding from the gums surrounding the implant
• Gum swelling and redness

Treatment of Mucositis

it is necessary to book an appointment for implant maintenance in which the following procedures are performed:

• elimination of all hard and soft deposits;
• reduction of inflammation;
• disinfection of prostheses and implant abutments;
• anti-bacterial irrigations are still used and sometimes it is necessary to adjust the prosthesis to avoid accumulation of bacterial plaque.

PERI-IMPLANTITIS

• Bone loss around the implant
• Bags around the implants (checked during consultation)
• Bleeding and / or pus outflow
• Implant with mobility
• Exposure of the implant thread
• Possible need to remove the implant

Treatment of Peri-implantitis

The treatment of peri-implantitis consists of removing plaque with surgical and / or non-surgical therapy in order to decontaminate the implant surface and prevent disease progression. The implant is scraped, combined with disinfectants and antibiotics. The adaptation of the prosthesis on the implants is also evaluated and the factors that favor the accumulation of plaque are eliminated.

Bone regeneration may be necessary with the use of bone grafts and regenerative membranes to recover the lost bone.

People who have a history of periodontal disease (gum disease), diabetics, smokers and persons with teeth grinding habit (bruxism) should have and receive greater care, since they have more risk for peri-implantitis.

What alarm signals should you watch out for?

• Bad breath
• Reddish gums
• Bleeding
• Swelling around the implant
• Pus
• Gum bags and bone loss (situations only verifiable by the oral health professional)

What daily care should you provide your implants?

As well as natural bacteria accumulate in natural teeth, this also happens with implant, bacteria damage the tissues that surround and support the implants, which is why daily oral hygiene must be strict.

For effective oral hygiene, there are resources recommended by your dentist, such as toothbrushes with a proper angle to better reach the implants, as well as single brushes (A), inter-dental brushes (B), dental floss (C) and water jet machines (D).

Implant maintenance consultations should be regular, varying their frequency according to the needs of each persons, being defined by your dentist and oral hygienist (usually between 3 to 6 months).

During routine visits, the amount of bone around the implant is checked, the state of gingival health, professional cleaning is performed to eliminate plaque and tartar on the surface of the prosthesis / crowns and around the implants.

Eventually, it may be necessary to change a part, such as the screws that connect the prosthesis to the abutment that connects to the implant for the following reasons:

Lack of oral hygiene care;

Periodontal disease that destroys the bone next to the implant;

Fracture of the prosthesis.

An untreated mucositis may develop into a peri-implantitis !!!

Albufeira Health Institute ® has a Department of Periodontology with accredited professionals specialized in the prevention, monitoring and treatment of patients with dental implants, come and meet us! We are waiting for you!

We can do a lot for your Oral Health!