Dental Implant Cleanings in Pittsburgh
We recommend that you come in for professional dental implant cleanings once or twice a year.
Special Care for Your Dental Implants
Dental implants can last a lifetime when placed correctly and cared for properly. However, when implants are not maintained, periodontal disease (mucositis and peri-implantitis) may occur and cause bone loss and potential loss of your implant. Because the way your implant meets your gum tissue is different than natural teeth, special care is required to keep the gums and bone healthy.
Regular Professional Cleanings
To ensure the success of your dental implant, we recommend that you come in for professional cleanings two to three times per year in addition to caring for your implant at home. Our hygienist can reach areas that may be difficult for you clean at home, and we use special plastic tools that won’t scratch the surface of your implants and attract bacteria.
During your cleaning, we’ll also check the depth of the pockets between your gums and teeth to be on alert for any potential signs of gum disease.
Caring for Your Implants at Home
Your dental hygienist and/or doctor will provide you with specific instructions on how to care for you dental implant at home. Overzealous brushing can cause gum recession and scratch the surface of the implant.
Daily flossing is an important part of home maintenance, and we may also recommend that you use small dental brushes (proxy brushes) to clean around areas that are more difficult to access. We will recommend the appropriate toothpaste and mouthwash for you as well.
We will teach you how to properly care for your implants so they can last you a lifetime.
If you exhibit any of these symptoms, please call for an immediate appointment so that we can address any issues early on.
