More than half a million dental implants are placed annually, and these remarkable prosthetic devices are 95% successful even ten years after being placed. While these appliances are remarkably strong, durable, and lifelike, they can be compromised or even fall out completely in some rare cases. Here’s a brief overview of why dental implants fail and how you can keep yours in great shape for many years.
Why Do Dental Implants Fail?
The process of receiving dental implants begins with a consultation at your dentist’s office so your oral health provider can evaluate your mouth and determine if these appliances can be a suitable replacement for your missing teeth. While this helps ensure that dental implants are remarkably successful, they can still fail due to injuries and infections that compromise the gum and bone tissues supporting them. Luckily, dental implants only require the same oral hygiene measures as real teeth, which makes them quite easy to care for.
Proper Oral Hygiene Can Prevent Dental Implant Failure
You can keep your dental implants clean and healthy by:
- Brushing: At least twice a day, carefully brush each surface of your teeth and dental implants with a gel-type toothpaste. Keep in mind that normal types of toothpaste can be harsh on your restorations and leave tiny scratches in them.
- Flossing: Gently floss your implants and natural teeth at least once daily. Take care when flossing your implants so you do not slide the thread too far down into the gum tissue, as this can leave your restoration susceptible to infection.
- Antibacterial mouthwash: Using this frequently will kill massive numbers of harmful oral bacteria and leave your mouth minty fresh.
- Regular dental visits: Seeing your dentist regularly will allow them to monitor the health of your natural and artificial teeth and address problems in their early stages.
Protect Your Dental Implants from Injury and Infection
It’s also important to shelter your implants from harmful influences. If you play sports, be sure to wear an athletic mouthguard to protect your smile from blows and falls. If you grind your teeth in your sleep, your dentist can provide you with a customized nightguard to defend your smile from damage. It’s also a great idea to limit your consumption of sugary and acidic foods and beverages, as excessive consumption of these can lead to soft tissue irritation and destructive oral infections.
Don’t let your gorgeous new dental implants fail due to preventable causes. With proper care and hygiene, your artificial teeth may be able to last for decades or even a lifetime.
About the Practice
Riviera Family Dentistry of Mesquite provides the most excellent oral healthcare in the area. Led by Drs. Le-Anne Ho, Matthew Arnold, and Jay Patel, the staff ensures that each patient receives compassionate care and outstanding customer service. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as dental implants. To learn more about proper implant care, contact the office online or dial (214) 764-0112.