Maintenance of Implants and Dental Care

Good dental care is indispensable for enduring dental health. This site contains information about intensive care of dental implants, the appropriate method of brushing them, and perfect dental hygiene.

Implants: Proper Care and Maintenance

Implants are certainly a high grade dental prosthesis and a valuable investment into your dental health. The new (and almost real) teeth are supposed to render service for a long time and should not cause any problems. For the long-term success of the implantation, it’s decisive to have the implants firmly anchored into the jaw bone and no inflammations occurring. Here, proper and regular care of the implants is of utmost importance. Prophylactic sessions at your professional dental practice and your own, implant-specific oral hygiene are essential for good results of the implantation in the long run.

The Optimized, Intensive Care of Implants

In any case, implants necessitate an intensive care that goes far beyond the normal brushing of teeth. The maxim has already been stated by both manufacturers and dentists at the outset of implantology and will be accounted for in the following:

There are decisive, anatomic differences between an implant and own teeth. Own teeth are anchored in the dental root and the jaw bone through specially designed body fibers. Dentists refer to this as the periodontal apparatus or periodontium. The cervix of the tooth is also anchored into the gum through this fiber-like structure. The periodontal attachment is by nature better protected against outside attacks than the artificial tooth, for the latter does not press as firmly against the gum as an own tooth. Moreover, attacking germs, food disposals, digestive juices, and foreign substances in the mouth do not harm the natural tooth as much as the implant as the former is better protected against inflammations. The biological conditions of the natural periodontal apparatus support the ability to heal inflammations by far better, than it would be the case with the osseous substance fitting to the implant.

Proper Techniques of Dental Care for Implants

Implants, implant crowns or other supra-constructions can be cleaned and taken care of as if they would be your own teeth. The most sensitive area to be taken care of in cleaning implants is the transition to the implant crown. More exactly speaking, this is the area between gingiva and crown. In any case, the development of plaque in this area should be avoided through intensive dental care. One needs to thoroughly clean the teeth - otherwise inflammations are likely to occur. Gingivitis, which is the inflammation of the gum, may result in its later stage in an inflammation of the periodontium. Peri-implantitis is one of the least pleasurable and most complicated problems occurring after implantations and likely to end up with the loss of the implants.

There are, as a matter of fact, basic rules of brushing and cleaning the teeth or dental implants, respectively. Admittedly, techniques of cleaning the teeth differ widely and in accordance to the numerous dental prostheses available, which may include Roach attachments, fixed bridges, dental crowns, ball anchors, and crosspieces. Below you will find the different devises and techniques for cleaning teeth and implants in detail.

Implant Care with Electric Toothbrushes

No one will earnestly argue against the scientifically verified findings suggesting, that the new and modern electric toothbrush is so much superior to the manual toothbrushes. The electric toothbrush is significantly better in removing plaque. Sure, the new electric toothbrush won't excuse you from brushing the teeth by yourself, but it makes dental care more intensive and is better fitted to the individual arrangement and nature of the teeth. But keep in mind that the electric toothbrush in also a manual toothbrush as you have to use your own hand to clean your own teeth and implant crowns. For those buying an electric toothbrush, we recommend you to see that the bristling of the brush head is constructed in a way allowing for the cleaning of the gingival margin and all the other areas of your denture and implants without damaging the gum.

After consultation with the attending dentist, oral surgeon or the assistant for prophylaxis, it should be made a decision on whether to use an electric, ultrasonic toothbrush, the so-called “Sonic System", or one of the more widespread electric toothbrushes with an oscillating brush head.

Dental and Implant Care with Manual Toothbrushes

A short head toothbrush medium with a straight, not too large brush is perfect for the cleaning of implants and own teeth. This kind of toothbrush allows for a thorough cleaning of all the wrinkles, edges, and corners of your denture that are hard to reach. It is recommended to use a toothbrush featuring hanks of bristles. Many manufacturers offer manual toothbrushes with bristles made from micro fibers, which are also a good choice for cleaning implants.

Since implants are considerably more sensitive in terms of erosion through mechanic force, using manual toothbrushes with bristles made of synthetic material and featuring rounded ends is good for your teeth. Other than synthetic bristles, those made from natural materials are hollow inside. Germs and bacteria can therfore easily populate the inside of the bristles. They might spread easily and undisturbed and will sooner or later account for inflammations of the gum, particularly around implants and here especially between the implant and its buildup.

If the manual toothbrush’s bristles are too hard, damages to the osseous-like dental substance called dentin (which is a relatively soft material), the surfaces of the roots, and the exposed neck of tooth may be caused. Moreover, due to lack of knowledge or information, manual toothbrushes are often being applied other than their intended use. But that’s exactly the reason for the occurrence of wedge-shaped deepenings at the free gingival.

Especially patients who have problems with their gingiva and suffer from gum bleeding should stick to soft-bristled toothbrushes in cleaning their teeth and implants and avoid too much pressure while brushing. Furthermore, the proper technique of brushing your teeth with a manual toothbrush is decisive for success or failure of your dental health in the long run. The toothbrush should be applied at an ankle of 45 degrees and be moved from red to white, that is, from gingiva to tooth. During brushing, the toothbrush should be applied in moderation. Too much force will bend the hanks and bristles of the brush, which brings about the reduction of the cleaning effect to a minimum.

It should be noted at this point, that given the toothbrush is properly chosen and perfectly applied to your teeth, and manual toothbrushes provide sufficient means to clean your implant. Improper brushing techniques and inadequate cleaning procedures will in most cases lead to insufficient results. Every time a new implant is added to your denture, you should readjust your cleaning modality.

Proper Use of Dental Floss for Implant Care

Bacteria and germs feel like home in the mouth, reproduce explosively and may continue unchecked in damaging our teeth and gingiva. Admittedly, we are also dependent from these bacteria to some extent. If the bacteria prevail or settle in with pathogenic (causing diseases) bacteria, caries, calculus, and gingival diseases may occur. Thus, periodontitis and caries will only be a matter of time.

A thorough and careful cleaning of teeth is a prerequisite for the endurance of both one’s own, old teeth and new implants. By its very construction, a toothbrush is not suited to the cleaning of the areas between implant and own teeth. This is however the exact place where bacteria and germs find a place to stay and proliferate. In order to deal with this problem, the use of dental floss is highly recommended and simply perfect for such tasks. Dental floss will help you getting cleaned even the gaps between the molars. Be advised that you can save your visit to your dentist just by practicing and applying the proper cleaning method to the brushing of your teeth.

Different Types of Dental Floss for Cleaning Implants

Dental floss for cleaning your own teeth and implants is available in many different types. Thick dental floss, dental floss covered with wax, thin dental floss, or dental floss unwaxed, and Teflon-coated dental floss. There is a huge variety among dental floss, and selecting the right one, the one that suits our demands, requires quite some time.

The market offers dental floss with fluoride. Fluoride is used for dental care, added to tooth paste, diet, etc., and is meant to increase the concentration of fluoride in the dental enamel to gain some prophylactic protection of your teeth. Fluoride in dental floss is supposed to migrate into dental enamel and hinder the formation of acids from sugar in the mouth and therefore the generation of glycolysis.

Obviously, a wide range of types of dental floss is awaiting us. Wax-coated dental floss does not tend to fray that fast, but it’s thicker than dental floss without wax. On the other hand, unwaxed dental floss is more affordable. Moreover, dental floss without wax may be fraying more easily when being used for the cleaning of implants. It may also get stuck between the teeth and make creaky sound during the cleaning process. Teflon-coated dental floss slides more easily between the implants and own teeth, but lacks the cleaning power of non-Teflon-coated dental floss. Dental floss drenched in chlorhexidine may reduce the infestation of the denture with bacteria and germs and also fights caries, but one should be prepared for the bigger price tag.

Proper Use of Dental Floss

Similar to most fields, the proper use of dental floss, particularly when it comes to the maintenance and care of implants, is essential for the longevity of your denture. As a prerequisite, you will need a certain amount of skills and knowledge about the adequate technique. To have the dental floss lying well in your hand, cut off a 35 centimeter string of dental floss. Then twist the end around your middle fingers. Make sure that your palms face each other at a distance of about 15 to 18 centimeters. Once the endings so the dental floss have been fixed that way, turn the palms downwards and use your index finger to position the dental floss at the gaps between the teeth, so as to have an easy way with cleaning your teeth.

Once this exercise has been accomplished, you are ready to start cleaning your teeth by help of dental floss. You may usually begin on the right side of your jaw, immediately behind the last molar. Run the dental floss carefully and evenly from the left to the right and slowly downwards past the implants and your own teeth. After this cleaning of one gap between the teeth, move on to the next gap. The movements of the dental floss should be done in a way to ensure the thorough cleaning of both walls of teeth.

The part of the dental floss used to clean the gap between the implants and your own teeth should be replaced after the careful cleaning of approximately four interdental spaces. To this end, take some dental floss off of one of your middle fingers and twist the other end a bit more around your other middle finger. This wrap technique requires some kind of training. After some time of practicing, this way of dealing with your dental floss will become a children’s game to you. If your cleaning efforts with dental floss do not yield the expected results, you may consult your dentist. This could be done in connection with your prophylaxis appointment at your dentist. If you have difficulties with the handling of dental floss by using your index finger, you may turn to the appliances designed to help you manage dental floss, which are available on the market. There are specially constructed dental floss holders where you can wrap your floss around and clean your implants and interdental spaces by using just one hand. To achieve good results, dental floss should be applied prior to every oral hygiene, that is, two, or better three times a day. Dental floss prepares well for the actual dental hygiene and implant care and must therefore be applied before using the toothbrush.

Dental Floss with Certain Amounts of Super and Ultra Floss for Implant Care

Dental floss with shares of super and ultra floss is a perfect aid to the cleaning of posts of implants and bar dentures. Here, the dental floss is wrapped around the posts and one of its ends is drawn so as to gain good cleaning results. Immersing dental floss in antiseptic liquids may enhance the cleaning effect and provide even better outcomes.

Parts of Dental Floss

Calling it dental floss is fallacious, as dental floss doesn't consist of floss, but of cotton. Cotton comprises small and extremely thin fibers of cotton, which are strung together to form strings. Dental floss comes with many different flavors. You can buy any flavor, from strawberry to peppermint; there is no limit to your personal taste. Dental floss is available in drugstores, super markets, and pharmacies.

We recommend the use of dental floss for all of those who want to take care of their teeth and wish to have them in a healthy condition as long as possible.

Care and Cleaning of Implants by Interdental Toothbrushes

The most effective aid for the care and cleaning of interdental spaces – whether there are implants or own teeth – is the interdental toothbrush. The interdental toothbrush is available in many types, which vary according to length and diameter. It should be noted, that interdental toothbrushes are designed in a way to allow them to adapt their sizes to the interdental spaces of implants and own teeth. Immersing interdental toothbrushes into antiseptic liquids significantly enhances the cleaning effect and disinfects the oral flora.

Implant Care Mistakes

Mistakes happen when cleaning own teeth as well as during the care and maintenance of implants and their buildups, crowns, and bridges. Particularly, too much pressure applied to the manual or electric toothbrush or overly long or frequent brushing procedures to clean the implant may damage the gingiva. A permanently wrong brushing technique could erase dental and implant substance and cause the gum to recede. Dentists recommend to brush and clean own teeth and implants by using the proper technique and not more than two times a day.

Because of its centered wire, one needs to get acquainted with interdental toothbrushes, which means to invest some practice and reading of the information provided to avoid the pitfalls. Besides the excellent cleaning effects of interdental toothbrushes, there exists some risk of damaging the interdental papilla. Therefore, the interdental toothbrush should only be used when the interproximal spaces between adjacent teeth have already been laid open. Alternatively, dental floss might be the better choice. If the interdental toothbrush is permanently applied in a wrong ankle, adjacent teeth may suffer from damages. Similar to a saw blade, the wire of the interdental toothbrush grinds the walls of the teeth, implants, and supra-constructions away in a wedge-shaped form.

Finally, it is not the frequency of cleaning and maintaining implants and own teeth that matters most. Rather, the use and application of the proper aid effectuates the best results. Too much of the good would therefore be more likely to have adverse effects, and it may damage dental substance and costly implants if seen in the long term.

Professional Dental Care and Maintenance of Implants

To maintain your dental substance, a twice-a-year professional cleaning and care of your implants done by a dental practice’s prophylactic assistant is appropriate. Thus, interdental and other areas, that are hard to reach by means of normal oral hygiene, will undergo a comprehensive and thorough cleaning. The two to four times a year arranged prophylactic examination at your dentist is an important pillar of dental medicine. It comprises therapeutic and diagnostic requirements. Patients receive essential information about hygiene and the improvement of their dental care and maintenance of implants. Through this, an early diagnosis of peri-implantitis, the funnel-shaped cavity in the bone of the implant's crest, is possible, which would require immediate therapy to prevent the implant from getting lost. Moreover, regular prophylaxis allows for an early diagnosis of caries and periodontitis and therefore the provision of prophylactic measures and an initial therapy.

Indicators for Good Results of Your Dental Care

Healthy and robust gingiva lies firmly and tautly against the necks of the teeth. Interdental papillae point slightly upwards between the teeth. The healthy, natural color of the gingiva resembles a pinkish tone and does not tend to bleedings or uncomfortable sensations during the brushing of teeth or chewing. The surfaces and necks of teeth, and crowns and bridges of own teeth and implants display no plaque. There are no irritating edges and ridges at your teeth, giving your tongue a smooth feel when sliding over them. The mostly free-standing posts of implants of bar dentures and overdentures are free of any deposits and plaque, as are the removable parts of artificial dentures. Inflammations of gingiva can only be properly diagnosed or excluded by the examination of the results of X-raying through dentists or oral surgeons. Regular examinations at your dentist, the taking of X-raying pictures and their comparatively checking against one another is indispensable.