How to Care for Dental Implants

Toronto and Mississauga, Ontario

One of the most important benefits of dental implants is that they require no special care. If you are taking care of your dental implants as if they were natural teeth, including brushing your teeth twice a day and having your regular dental checkups, then your dental implants will continue to function for many years--they have the ability to be lifetime devices.

This page gives some basic care instructions for dental implants, but if you are a current patient of Willow Dental with specific questions about care, please call us at 905-279-5050. If you are a new patient considering dental implants and would like to talk to someone in person about ongoing care for dental implants, please call or email us to schedule a consultation at our Toronto-area office.

Caring for Dental Implants

Dental implants are designed to mimic your natural tooth root. They do this so well that they require no special care, with the possible exception of some additional thoroughness when flossing, though if you have implant-anchored dentures, the dentures must also be cared for.

Here is a reminder of what you should do to ensure the longest life for your dental implants:

• Brush twice a day--If you have implant-secured dentures remove them prior to brushing. Thoroughly clean your gums as well as your teeth and implants.
• Floss every day--For fixed crowns, your abutments should be concealed below the gum line, but if you can access them, floss around and behind them. Also, clean under implant-secured dental bridges. For implant-secured dentures, the abutments will be visible and will need to be cleaned.
• Make regular dental check-ups--Professional cleanings will help combat gum disease that can allow bacteria to attack your implants and cause failure. In most cases, you will still Need to come in regularly for cleanings and an examination with your dentist.

Caring for Dentures

If you have implant-secured dentures, there are a few more steps necessary to ensure proper cleaning.

• Handle dentures with care--You don't want to break them by carelessly dropping them
• Rinse thoroughly with water--Make sure you get all visible food particles off your dentures.
• Brush your dentures--Use the brush you were given and the cleaning paste you were instructed to use. Make sure you thoroughly clean the sockets that secure the dentures to the implant. Then rinse again.
• Soak your dentures in a cleanser--We will recommend suitable brands for your dentures.

It's also a good idea to check the fit of your dentures every day. If the fit of your dentures changes suddenly it can be a sign that something is wrong and you should contact us.

If you have more questions about how to care for your dental implants, please contact Willow Dental, serving the entire Toronto metro area from our Mississauga, Ontario office.