Implant Care Guide

Now that you have completed your dental implant treatment, we hope that you are delighted with the result. You have invested time and money into the most modern method of tooth replacement. We would like to help you understand how to care for you implant(s) and protect your investment.

Implants are certainly the most natural way of replacing lost teeth, but just like your natural teeth, they require focussed care to maintain them in a healthy condition. When we fitted your implant restoration, we will have explained thoroughly the most effective care regime, this involves:

• Thorough brushing of the gum edge with your normal tooth brush (manual or electric – ideally with medium / soft bristles and a small head).
• Regular (twice daily) cleaning of the space between your implant teeth with a suitably sized interproximal brush (Tepe type). This brush should be correctly sized so that gentle pressure is required to push the brush in and out of the space (ie not so large that excessive force is required, but not so small that no resistance is felt).
• Professional hygiene visits at regular intervals either every 3 or 6 months depending on your risk of gum disease (we will advise which is appropriate).

Removable Denture users
If your implants are supporting a removeable denture, the fit surface (inside) must be cleaned thoroughly each day to remove the film of bacteria which will grow while your denture is being worn. A separate soft toothbrush is required and a small amount of detergent (washing up liquid) brushed all over the surface of the denture, then thoroughly rinsed.

Regular dentist visits
Whichever type of implant solution you have, the implants and supporting teeth should be professionally checked either by your implant dentist or your regular dentist at least annually. Signs of implant disease or wear of the restoration can often be most effectively treated when detected early.

Healthy lifestyle
Implant disease is much more common in smokers and Diabetics as well as those with gum disease and those who do not pay attention to mouth hygiene. So a healthy lifestyle will certainly reduce your risk of implant disease.

Attention to the above information will help to ensure that you enjoy the benefits of your implant teeth for many years to come. Should you have concerns at any stage, please do not hesitate to contact us.