How to Prevent Failing Dental Implants

Dental implants are a long-term investment in your smile and one of the most natural and aesthetic ways to replace your missing teeth. While they have sustained an over 95% success rate over the last few decades, dental implants can sometimes fail. There are steps you can take to help ensure your dental implants don’t fail, so you can enjoy their benefits for the rest of your life.

1. Maintain great oral hygiene

Dental implants are susceptible to similar problems natural teeth are, namely infection of the gum tissues caused by bacterial plaque. Brushing and flossing daily is the best way to ensure that the plaque on your teeth and gums is removed and does not harden into tartar and infect the gums. Without proper oral hygiene, your dental implants are at risk for peri-implantitis.

2. Avoid Smoking

The nicotine in cigarettes has been shown to limit blood flow and oxygen, making it difficult for the body to heal after surgery and maintain a healthy, strong immune system. Smoking can also burn the tissues inside the mouth. It’s best to quit smoking altogether if you’re receiving dental implants, but if not, avoid it for the months leading up to and following your surgery.

3. Eat a Healthy Diet

A diet full of sugars and carbs is dangerous to your dental implants in addition to being bad for your body. Sugars lead to tooth decay in natural teeth and can encourage bacterial accumulation on the teeth and gums that lead to gum disease or peri-implantitis around implants. If you have a sweet tooth, be sure to rinse your mouth with water thoroughly after eating sweets and brush your teeth at least twice a day.

4. Visit the Dentist Twice a Year

Having a thorough oral hygiene routine is necessary for maintaining your oral health. But a dental visit can provide a more comprehensive evaluation of your smile and dental implants. Our dentist will take x-rays, screen for oral cancer, check the pocket depth of your gums, and provide a cleaning that removes any plaque and tartar from your teeth and implants.

Schedule an Appointment

Do the gums around your dental implant look swollen or bleed easily? Or has it been months since you visited the dentist? Reach out to your local dentist, William F. Lane, D.M.D. and William M. Lane MD, DMD, MBA, in our office in Plymouth, MA and set up a consultation.