Taking Care of Your Implant

Caring for your implant and crown is the first step in claiming your lost smile back. After implantation, the implant and the crown start to establish a perfect fit with the rest of the teeth. They are not yet as strong and used to biting as the others are. Your dentist might give you some instructions after the entire operation is completed. Because of this, you must spend the first few weeks with precaution to avoid accidentally losing your smile again.

Remember that your new tooth is connected to the hard tissues underneath and the soft tissues around the implant. It means that any movement on the surface that creates considerable pressure might lead to sensitivity problems. Therefore, do not immediately brush the implant as harshly as you used to brush your teeth. If possible, use mouthwash for at least a couple of days.

Only after the first few days after the implantation can the teeth function similarly like its surrounding teeth. Prior to that day, select your food carefully and avoid biting hard substances. If your doctor recommends mouth guard to keep from the impact of clenching, do not think twice to accept. Dentists in cities like Bartlett who perform implantation recommend the use mouth guards for weeks to patients with severe sleeping disorder.

A Bartlett dentist will also suggest a separate tooth brush for the implant at least for the first few weeks. Cleaning the abutment of the implant with the toothbrush you use for the rest of the teeth may abrade it, or the pressure might tatter its covering. A special toothbrush can help access abutments without causing any problems with the structure.

After few months of special care, the implant and the artificial crown can now perform as well as the rest of the teeth. However, for proper oral hygiene, Bartlett dentists suggest not only brushing but also flossing. Regular flossing will save the implant from early deterioration due to the organic compounds stuck in the abutment – similar to how these compounds cause tooth decay in a natural tooth.

If you want further care for your new tooth, go to your Bartlett implant dentist at least four times a year for office cleaning and necessary treatment. Even though it looks very similar to a natural tooth, you should treat it with care. In that way, your smile will last for many years as your implant remains strong and healthy.