Do I need to do anything to care or maintain my dental implants?
It is true that dental implants are one of the greatest advances in the history of dentistry. However, I have to constantly remind people that just like teeth, implants need maintenance care and just like teeth, they can be susceptible to periodontal (gum) disease. The perception of much of general public is that implants are forever, just put them in and you are done for the rest of your life. This is far from the truth. At best, think of implants as a third set of teeth or as a last chance for people who have had an unfortunate situation or neglected their adult teeth. If you abuse implants by smoking, avoiding cleanings, grinding, ignoring systemic problems like diabetes or other neglectful behavior, your implants will most probably not last as long as you do. As mentioned in previous articles, your dentist or dental specialist can help with the expected longevity of a dental implant by making sure that if bone and gum tissue are subpar, the proper bone grafting and/or gum grafting is performed prior to placement. After proper implant integration and healing has taken place and a well fitting restoration has been fabricated, maintenance is up to the patient and is extremely important. It is unfortunate that much of the public is unaware of this.
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