If you are unhappy with the appearance of your smile, dental implants can give you back your confidence. When properly cared for, dental implants can last a lifetime. This makes them a smart alternative to other tooth restoration options, such as crowns and bridges.
Dental implants surgically connect a titanium post to your jawbone. Replacement teeth are then positioned on the post. Check out some of the easy ways you can maximize the lifespan of your implants.
1. Maintain a High Level of Dental Hygiene
Your dental implants are designed to be as low maintenance as possible. One of the most important things you can do to make sure they last a lifetime is follow a strict dental hygiene regime.
Make sure that you visit your dentist every six months for a cleaning. If you are prone to dental issues, such as plaque accumulation or gum irritation, your dentist may recommend that you come in every three to four months.
Always brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least one time a day. Using an electric toothbrush helps ensure that you hit areas of the mouth that are easy to overlook.
2. Avoid Smoking
Smoking is one of the worst things for your health, but it is especially problematic for your oral health.
When you smoke, this increases your chances of producing bacterial plaque. Bacterial plaque leads to gum disease thanks to the presence of bacteria and the lack of oxygen caused by smoking. Since the implants are connected beneath the jawline, gum disease can shorten the life of your implants.
Weakening bones are also associated with smoking. Your implants are connected to your jawbone; if your bones become weaker, your dental implants are less likely to stay connected.
You want to keep your implants gleaming and white. Like natural teeth, implants can be stained by the nicotine and tar in tobacco products.
3. Promptly Repair Any Damage to Your Dental Implants
Though it is a rare occurrence, it is possible for one of your dental implants to break. See your dentist as soon as possible to see why the breakage occurred. It may be that the titanium post was not properly connected to your jawbone, or it is possible that the screw used to connect the implant broke.
A dentist like those at Tijeras Dental Service can help you figure out what went wrong and remedy the problem. Depending on how old your implants are, a portion or all of the cost of the implant materials may be covered by the manufacturer's warranty.
Share16 December 2016
Hi, my name is Kevin Nelson and I want to tell you about my experience. I had a painful tooth so I went to see my dentist. After the examination, he said that I needed to have a root canal to save the tooth. I told the dentist to just pull the tooth instead and then he explained why that wasn't a good idea. He said that pulling the tooth would cause additional problems and then he told me what could happen. I didn't want any more problems, so the dentist did the root canal and I'm glad that he did. I wanted to write a blog to tell others about the benefits of a root canal and what to expect during the procedure. I hope that by getting the word out, other people won't make the same mistake that I almost did by getting a perfectly good tooth pulled.