Contrary to popular belief, a dental implant is not the false tooth that’s fitted to bridge a gap in your smile – but rather the screw that holds a dental implant in place.
Crafted from titanium, carefully embedded into the jawline in place of a natural tooth root, and secured in place without affecting the surrounding teeth, a dental implant is by no means a quick fix – though it is exceptionally long-lasting given the right care and attention.
What this means is that, alongside the fitting of a dental implant in Essex, we advise all our patients to find out as much as they can about dental implant maintenance too, to keep their replacement tooth in the best possible condition.
At-Home Dental Implant Maintenance
Once your dental implant has been fitted, there are two stages to the process that patients need to be aware of.
Initially, because dental implants need to be given time to bond with the bone and settle into place, a temporary tooth will be fixed in place to protect the screw. Once this has healed, the permanent replacement tooth can be screwed into place.
Once complete, the benefit of this permanent tooth is that maintenance is much the same as every other tooth in your mouth. Implants need to be kept clean via brushing and flossing, with patients advised to avoid very chewy foods and biting on things that can cause dental damage. Regular dental visits should form part of your dental implant maintenance, along with a healthy overall lifestyle.
Professional Dental Implant Maintenance Services
While at-home maintenance is integral to elongating the lifespan of your dental implant and ensuring that it fulfils its role of replacement tooth for years to come, there are professional services that can help.
Implant restoration is a service that is offered by leading dentists across Essex and beyond, giving former patients and those who have had dental implants fitted in the past the benefit of a professional assessment. During this assessment, we can check the stability of the implant and its strength, making adjustments where they are needed to ensure that you can continue to eat, communicate, and brush your teeth comfortably and with ease.
Professional maintenance can also cover whitening and treatment for discoloured teeth, to ensure that your replacement / false tooth doesn’t just fit into your jawline but also blends into your smile.
Do You Need a Dental Implant?
If you have a gap in your smile that is affecting your confidence or your ability to communicate, eat, and perform other daily essentials as normal, then a dental implant could be a good solution for you.
While more costly than veneers and dentures, a dental implant is a long-lasting solution that does not cause harm to any surrounding teeth.
To find out if you are a good candidate for dental implants, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your local dentist for a smile assessment and consultation.