Dental Implant Cleaning & Sterilization
One of the most important things for patients who are new to having dental implants to know is that you will need to incorporate a different approach to cleaning around your implants compared to your natural teeth. This is because the materials your implants are made of are different than your natural teeth and they attach to the gums and bone differently.
The components of the implant you need to be aware of are the titanium posts that are placed in your jawbone, which will act as the new root of your replacement tooth. Removable dentures, bridgework or artificial crowns will attach to these implants and comprise the visible part of your implant. There is also the abutment, which connects the crown and implant.
To help ensure the health and longevity of your dental implant, it is essential that you take as good of care of them as you do your natural teeth, because both depend on the surrounding tissues being healthy to ensure they are properly supported. Just like your natural teeth, bacteria can also collect on implant crowns. When this bacteria is not removed, you increase your risk of developing peri-implantitis, which can result in bone loss around your implant, which can ultimately cause your implant to fail. As such, it is essential that practice good oral hygiene habits on a daily basis.
Scheduling Regular Cleanings
While a good and consistent oral health routine at home is an essential step to maintaining the health of your implants, scheduling regular cleanings with your periodontist at least every six months is also important to ensure that your implants remain infection free. During these cleanings, your periodontist will evaluate your mouth to identify if any soft or hard debris is present, where these deposits are located, what surfaces they are accumulating on, and how strongly they are adhered to these surfaces.
Based on this information, your periodontist will be able to determine what instruments are needed to correct these issues without damaging the implant, abutment, or crown. If your crown or abutment are scratched, this may result in an accumulation of bacteria. To reduce the risk of this happening, your periodontist will use plastic curettes and scalers around these areas, whereas metal instruments can be used around natural teeth because they are not as susceptible to scratching.
Ultrasonic instruments with plastic or nylon tips or sheaths may also be used to clean large areas of debris while avoiding damaging the implant. These same instruments can be used on a lower setting with antibacterial solutions and water irrigation to flush away and debris.
Finally, your periodontist will use brushes that are designed to clean biofilm from exposed areas.
Although there are many precautions that need to be taken when cleaning your implants, the good news is that dental implants have a high success rate of over 95%. So long as you follow good oral hygiene habits at home on a daily basis and continue schedule regular cleanings, you will seriously reduce your risk of developing peri-implantitis and will continue to enjoy having a bright, full healthy smile for many years to come!