Caring for Your Dental Implants

If you have missing teeth, getting dental implants is one of the best things you can do to maintain optimal oral health. Dental implants prevent jaw bone loss and support your remaining teeth, ensuring they don’t shift or become loose. In doing so, they protect against further tooth loss and preserve the ability to speak and chew normally. Dental implants also look identical to natural teeth, so they’re a great way to restore confidence in your smile after tooth loss. Just like natural teeth, however, they require routine care: To get the most out of your implants, you’ll need to take a few simple steps to keep the gum tissue that supports them healthy. 

In the following guide, we’ll explain proper care for dental implants, including the correct oral hygiene practices, the role of dental exams, and how to spot potential problems.

Unlike dentures, dental implants are easy to look after. Not only do these permanent restorations look, feel, and function like natural teeth, but their care is also similar. To prevent dental implant complications, we recommend taking the following steps:

While dental implants can’t develop cavities, they still require regular brushing and flossing to remove plaque and prevent gum disease. Similar to natural teeth, dental implants are anchored in place by bone and gum tissue; without regular brushing and flossing, gum and bone health can degrade, loosening the implant and increasing the risk of infection.

Hard foods, such as ice or hard candy, can chip or crack the implant crown. Sticky foods, like toffee or chewing gum, can also cause damage or dislodge the crown.

Smoking can increase the risk of implant failure by reducing blood flow to the gums, potentially causing or worsening gum disease. It can also slow down the healing process after implant surgery and interfere with the jawbone’s ability to fuse with the implant.

Regular dental check-ups and cleanings are important for maintaining the health of the gum tissue and teeth around your implant. Your dentist can also monitor the implant for complications and recommend treatments (if necessary).

By following these care tips, you can ensure the success and longevity of your dental implants. With proper maintenance, dental implants can last 20 years or more – in some cases, they may even last a lifetime.

Brush around the implant crown, abutment, and gum line, just like you would with your natural teeth. Be sure to brush for at least two minutes, using gentle circular motions to cover all surfaces of the crown. Avoid using a hard-bristled toothbrush or abrasive toothpaste, as these products can damage the implant and irritate surrounding gum tissue.

Flossing is essential to remove plaque and food particles between your teeth and around the implant. If you don’t floss, plaque can accumulate along and below the gum line, causing gum disease and dental caries in the surrounding teeth, eventually leading to implant failure.

To protect the surrounding tissue of the implant(s), floss using an implant-specific floss or unwaxed tape. Gently glide the floss up and down the sides of the implant and under the gum line. If you find this process difficult or uncomfortable, try using a water pick instead. Never use toothpicks (or any other hard instrument) to remove food debris trapped around a dental implant.

After brushing and flossing, rinse your mouth with water or an antimicrobial mouthwash to help remove any remaining debris and bacteria.

Before you have dental implant surgery, your dentist will discuss proper aftercare protocol with you, including smoking cessation, eating soft foods, and avoiding alcohol. Even after your implants have healed, however, you may need to modify your lifestyle to prevent complications. 

Smoking (and other forms of tobacco use) is associated with a much higher long-term risk of implant failure. Smoking interferes with healing, so it can disrupt osseointegration (the process wherein the implant fuses to the jawbone), making dental implants more prone to shifting. It also irritates the gums, reduces saliva production, and lowers blood-oxygen levels, increasing the risk of gum recession and periodontal disease. These problems can lead to implant failure months or years after placement: By some estimates, smoking doubles the likelihood of implant failure.

Similar to tobacco, alcohol irritates and dehydrates oral tissues. It also thins the blood and reduces immune function, making dental implant patients more susceptible to chronic bleeding and infection.

To ensure your dental implants last a lifetime, talk to your doctor about smoking cessation aids (if you smoke) and limit your alcohol intake to one drink per day or less. Eating a healthy diet rich in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables can also be helpful, as these foods contain essential nutrients that support bone and tissue health.

Dental implants have a very low rate of complications: In over 95% of cases, they achieve complete long-term success. However, it’s still important to be aware of potential issues that might affect your implants, especially if you have health conditions that predispose you to gum disease or infection. 

While some dental implant problems are obvious (such as chipped or cracked implant crowns or loose implants), others are harder to detect. Seeing your dentist for regular exams is crucial to catching hidden issues early and ensuring your implants remain viable. Some of the most common complications affecting dental implants are micro-movements, gum recession, and infection, while rare issues include protrusion into the sinus cavity, nerve damage, and allergic reactions.

In most cases, these complications can be prevented by choosing a skilled, experienced oral surgeon for implant placement. However, certain lifestyle factors (such as smoking) and health conditions can sometimes disrupt normal implant function regardless of your surgeon’s skill, as can poor oral hygiene. 

In addition to caring for your implants appropriately, call your dentist immediately if you notice any of these warning signs:

While some discomfort is to be expected immediately following dental implant surgery, ongoing pain isn’t normal. If you experience pain around your dental implants that lasts longer than two weeks or is unusually severe, seek prompt medical attention. 

Any swelling that occurs weeks or months after your dental implant is placed is a cause for concern. Swelling is a common sign of infection, which may result from gum disease (periodontitis) or a deeper infection in the tissue around the dental implant. If swelling is accompanied by bleeding or pus, you should contact your dentist for an emergency appointment; if left unaddressed, the infection can spread and become serious. 

Numbness or tingling in your gums or jaw could indicate nerve damage. While nerve damage isn’t immediately dangerous, it can become permanent if left untreated. To heal nerve damage after dental implant surgery, your dentist may suggest removing the dental implant and replacing it with a different type of restoration, such as a dental bridge. Medications can also be used to reduce inflammation and encourage the damaged nerve to heal.

If you notice that your implants look longer than they should or the edge of the crown is exposed, you may be experiencing gum recession. To correct this problem, you may need to improve your oral hygiene habits, receive treatment for gum disease, or have your dental implants adjusted. In advanced cases, gum grafts can be used to fill in pockets of missing gum tissue around dental implants.

If your dental implants are working properly, you won’t even know they’re there. As such, any discomfort (or feeling of movement) when chewing or speaking should be investigated by a dentist. Factors such as gum disease, chewing hard or sticky food, or bruxism (teeth grinding) can loosen dental implants, making repair or replacement necessary.

If you suspect problems with your dental implants, don’t ignore them or assume they’ll go away on their own. Seeing your dentist as soon as possible is the best way to prevent implant loss and preserve your investment.

Regardless of what type of dental implants you have, follow-up appointments and twice-annual dental exams are critical to long-term success. During dental exams, your dentist will:

– Take X-rays to check the condition and position of the implant below the gum line.

– Examine the gum tissue around the implant to make sure it’s healthy.

– Clean your teeth and gums, ensuring plaque doesn’t build up in hard-to-reach areas.

– Assess the stability of your implants.

– Replace or repair damaged implant crowns.

– Provide instructions on how to take care of your implants at home. 

When caught early, gum disease and peri-implant mucositis are almost always reversible. Together with smoking cessation, limiting alcohol, and eating healthily, seeing your dentist regularly greatly reduces the risk of dental implant complications. 

1. Who makes a good candidate for dental implant surgery?

The ideal candidate for dental implant surgery is a healthy non-smoker with excellent oral hygiene habits. 

2. When should I get dental implants?

If possible, dental implants should be placed no later than six months following the loss of a tooth, but this isn’t strictly necessary. Bone and gum grafts can be used to help support implants in patients who have already experienced jawbone deterioration. 

3. Am I too old for dental implant surgery?

There is no age at which a person becomes ineligible for dental implant surgery. As long as you’re in good health, you can get dental implants. 

4. What happens if I’m allergic to my dental implants?

Most people who have an allergic reaction to dental implants are allergic to titanium. This allergy can be detected before your procedure using a MELISA test and an alternative implant material (such as zirconia) can be chosen. 

5. Are dental implants covered by insurance?

In many cases, dental insurance will cover a portion of the cost of your dental implant procedure, as well as any follow-up care you need. Refer to the details of your insurance plan to assess your level of coverage.

With thorough home care and regular dental exams, most dental implants will last for decades. At the same time, they’ll preserve the shape of your face, keep your jawbone strong and healthy, and allow you to maintain a beautiful, functional smile with ease.

If you have dental implants, remember that the need for routine dental exams doesn’t decrease with time. Whether you’ve had your implants for one year or twenty, seeing your dentist at least once every six months is necessary to prevent complications. 

When selecting a dentist to clean and monitor your implants, look for someone with a background in oral surgery. A dentist who is familiar with dental implants will be able to identify issues in their early stages and provide appropriate treatment. They will also know how to clean your implants and abutments correctly.

With over a decade of experience as one of Mississauga’s leading dental implant surgeons, Dr. Dalmao has the knowledge and expertise required to insert, repair, and examine dental implants. Whether you’re looking to replace missing teeth or care for existing implants, our clinic offers a welcoming, informative environment and multiple dental restoration options. Contact us today to discover how we can help you maintain the perfect smile.