Avoiding Gum Disease To Keep Your Implants Healthy
Anyone seeking dental implants in Richmond should be aware that once their crown has been attached to their implant, it’s not a simple fix and forget solution.
Although it’s true that dental implants are one of the most maintenance free methods of tooth replacement, the reality is, that like your natural teeth, they do require a certain level of care and attention.
This doesn’t entail any special treatment, as you might with dentures, but nonetheless a patient needs to focus on maintaining a high level of oral hygiene FOR EVER.
Early warning signs
One of the biggest threats to dental implants is gum disease, which if not treated can lead to bone loss in the implant area, causing the implant to become unstable. Without the solid support of the bone, the implant may loosen and fall out. This is what can happen when a patient suffers a lapse in their oral hygiene regime.
It isn’t all doom and gloom however. The good news is the advanced stage of gum disease, periodontitis, which can cause your implant to fail, is preceded with gingivitis, which is a milder form of gum disease. Generally this is noticed early on as your gums will be sore or bleeding, so if you notice these symptoms then it’s vital that you contact your dentist right away to arrange an appointment.
However gum disease can occur even without these symptoms which is why it’s so important to attend follow up appointments after having your implant placed. Gum disease can be treated quite easily if spotted at its early stages by the dental team. If ignored, however, the problem will become more serious and can lead to periodontitis.
Do take the signs of blood seriously
Don’t ever shrug off the signs of blood when you brush your teeth, as not being anything to worry about, or kidding yourself that you’ve scratched your gum with your toothbrush. Stepping up your oral routine at home isn’t always sufficient either, since if the bacteria has reached beneath the gumline, then renewed vigour with your oral routine, will have little effect. If this has occurred then you will need to have periodontal treatment which will be carried out at your dental clinic. Bearing in mind that dental implants have the potential to last for thirty years or more, it seems a shame to risk them failing because of not looking after them properly.
One of the easiest ways to prevent periodontitis from occurring and threatening your implants, is to attend all your follow up appointments with Sheen Dental, so we can monitor your implant and your oral health. If you’d like to learn more about getting a dental implant in Richmond then why not attend a free implant consultation with us. Book yours online at www.sheendentalimplants.co.uk or call us direct on 020 8876 5277.