Dental implants
Care and hygiene of dental implants
A dental implant is a component that is inserted into the jaw bone to artificially replace the root of a tooth. The loss of a tooth may be due to multiple factors: tooth decay, periodontal disease, endodontic complications, trauma or genetic predisposition to agenesis (absence of teeth).
Care and hygiene of dental implants
A dental implant is a component that is inserted into the jaw bone to artificially replace the root of a tooth. The loss of a tooth may be due to multiple factors: tooth decay, periodontal disease, endodontic complications, trauma or genetic predisposition to agenesis (absence of teeth).
The presence of microorganisms on the surface of dental implants can lead to the development of peri-implant diseases, namely peri-implant mucositis, which, if not treated correctly, can progress to peri-implantitis.
Peri-implant mucositis:
Inflammatory lesion that occurs in the mucosa surrounding an implant. The most common characteristics include oedema, redness, mucosal inflammation and bleeding without loss of the bone surrounding the implant.
Peri-implantitis:
Inflammatory lesion of the mucosa surrounding an implant that is also associated with the loss of supporting bone. The most common characteristics are the appearance of inflammation, bleeding, implant mobility and suppuration. Lesions caused by peri-implantitis are poorly encapsulated and extend into the marginal bone tissue. If they advance, they can potentially cause the loss of the implant.
However, prosthetic complications, such as loosening of the screw, rupture of the implant at the level of the internal screw’s last thread, porcelain fracture or dissolution of the cement can occur. That is why it is so important to get regular check-ups with a specialist, which can help ensure proper adaptation of the component in the patient's oral cavity.
- Carry out even stricter oral hygiene than someone who has not undergone this type of operation.
- Use specific top of the line brushes. These help to prevent peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis, because they are specially designed to mechanically disrupt the oral biofilm around implants with maximum precision and allow penetration into the neck of the implant-crown.
- Complement toothbrushing with oral irrigators and mouthwashes to help to drag the accumulated food remains out from under the implants.
- Use interproximal brushes and dental floss or tape to remove oral biofilm from the interproximal spaces.
- Get a professional cleaning at least twice a year, to be on the safe side.