3 Ways to Care for Your New Dental Implants

While dental implants are a low maintenance choice when it comes to tooth replacement options, there are still some steps you need to take in order to make sure they last you a lifetime. We list three ways you can care for your new dental implants.

The American Academy of Implant Dentistry estimates that 3 million people in the United States get dental implants each year, and that number continues to grow significantly. This tooth replacement option is so popular due to its high functionality, low maintenance, and ability to improve oral health.

So if you’ve been looking into getting dental implants to replace some of your missing teeth, our team at Wilshire Park Dental Group wants you to know a little bit more about what dental implants are and how to take care of them once you’ve had the procedure.

Explaining dental implants

Dental implants are a long-term solution to missing teeth. The implant procedure anchors titanium posts into your jawbone before an artificial crown is placed over them — attached through a device called an abutment. Over time, the metal post fuses with your jawbone, making the treatment permanent.

If you have one or more missing teeth and have sufficient jawbone to attach the implants to, you can be considered a candidate for dental implants. You may also consider them if you want to avoid dentures and all the messy inconvenience they come with.

Since dental implants are able to function just like your regular teeth, they also come with a lot of benefits. They don’t require you to remove them in order to be cleaned, and they also allow you to chew normally and clean your surrounding teeth easily.

Caring for your dental implants

After you receive your dental implants, you’ll want to make sure to take excellent care of them to ensure they last. Dental implants have a success rate of up to 98% and can last you a lifetime if you follow after-care instructions properly. Here are three ways you can take care of your implants after they’re placed:

1. Eat soft foods

While your jawbone is healing from the implantation process, make sure to eat plenty of soft foods to ensure that everything heals correctly and your new implant can fuse with your jawbone properly.

2. Take care of them just like your regular teeth

One of the best ways you can ensure that your new implants will last a lifetime is to brush and floss them just like your normal teeth. Your implants are just as likely to lead to gum disease as your regular teeth, and that can lead to dental implant failure.

In addition, be sure to see your dentist regularly and avoid sugary foods, just as you would for a normal tooth.

3. Quit smoking

If you’re a smoker and you want to get dental implants, now is a good time to quit. Smoking can impact the healing process and can also decrease the likelihood that your implants will last.

In addition, if your implants become loose or painful at any point, contact our office right away so our team can examine the problem.

If you have any questions concerning the dental implant process or how to care for your implants afterwards, don’t hesitate to contact our office located in Los Angeles, California, for more information. Call us, or use our online scheduler to book a consultation with us today.