Instructions for after getting a dental implant

Implants can develop disease, just like a natural tooth. After your dental implant is placed you must maintain your implants by:

• Having daily oral hygiene practices at home
• Continuing to visit your dental professional regularly

Plaque is a sticky film that constantly forms on your teeth and implants. If you do not clean your implant(s) properly, the plaque builds up and can cause gum inflammation called peri-implant mucositis. Your gums may look red, swollen, feel sensitive or bleed easily. This can be reversed, but if plaque is not removed, the bone around the implant will start to go away.

Once there is both inflammation and loss of bone around implants it is called peri-implantitis. The implant gradually loses its attachment. This disease often goes unnoticed, so it is important to visit your dental professional regularly to discover problems as early as possible to increase the chance of successful treatment.

Other risk factors increasing potential inflammation and bone loss around an implant include poor oral hygiene, previous or active gum disease, some systemic diseases, smoking, and not attending your dental recall visits.

The development of inflammation around implants:

The gums and bone around an implant are far more sensitive to plaque and the build-up of bacteria, than around a natural tooth. The implant attaches directly to the bone, so natural defense mechanisms are limited if not cleaned properly. Maintaining a high standard of plaque control is essential to help you keep your implants for life.  

Pay extra attention to:

• Between the implant and adjacent teeth. This is often an area where food may get trapped and plaque can hide undisrupted.
• Where the gums and implant meet. Sometimes this can be hard to see where the implant is located, so remember to ask your dental professional exactly where your implant is placed.