82 W. Main Street Northborough, MA 01532

Current Patients (508) 393-8816

New Patients (508) 506-1691

How to Prevent Dental Implant Failure

If you want to replace one or more missing teeth, you can get the most comprehensive restorative treatment through implant dentistry. Patients can restore the appearance of their smiles as well as their oral functions with this fixed tooth replacement solution.

Your dentist will evaluate your dental structure to make sure you can support these fixtures. They will not give you these implants unless they feel confident in their success. They will check that your jaw is stable and strong enough to sustain the anchor of the implant.

But implants might fail if you do not take care of your smile. Read on to find advice from your dentist to help you get the most out of your dental implants and prevent the failure of these devices.

single dental implant tooth replacement

Follow Aftercare Guidelines from Your Dentist

Implant dentistry involves a multi-step process, and to make sure your implants fuse properly and heal effectively, you should follow your dentist’s aftercare guidelines. Your dentist begins this treatment with oral surgery to place the anchors of the implants into the jaw. As it heals, it fuses with the bone for optimal support.

You will need to be gentle with these surgical sites so that you do not disrupt the healing process. But you must still practice good oral hygiene to keep your mouth and these new fixtures clean. Use careful cleaning methods and adhere to your dentist’s instructions.

When the surgical sites heal, you return to your dentist’s office to receive your custom permanent prosthetic teeth attached to the anchors. Pay attention to your smile after this procedure. Your dentist can provide you with pain management to alleviate soreness directly after your treatment. But extreme pain is abnormal and could mean your implant is failing.

Tell your dentist about severe pain, swelling, and other issues with your implant. A failing implant will need prompt treatment and removal to preserve your oral health.

Continue Effective Preventative Dental Care

As mentioned, you will need to take care of your oral health before, during, and after the implant dentistry treatment if you want your implants to last. If you have poor oral hygiene habits, bacteria can spread across your mouth and leave you with dental damage that could also hurt your implants.

Therefore, continue good oral hygiene, which entails flossing daily and brushing your teeth twice a day. Your dental implants will not require separate maintenance from the rest of your mouth. But some patients might use special brushes or flossing tools to better clean the area around the implants.

You should also attend routine teeth cleanings and oral health exams with your dentist for optimal preventative dental care. The dentist can also check your dental implants during these check-ups to ensure they still function as they should.

If you notice any abnormal symptoms with your implants, do not hesitate to call your dentist. You might need emergency dental treatment to remove a failing implant before it creates further harm to your smile.