Caring for Dental Implants

One of the greatest advantages of dental implants is the treatment’s longevity. Unlike dentures, partials, or bridges which must be replaced every few years to ensure continued oral function, implants often last a lifetime with the right care. In order to enjoy the full lifespan of this treatment option, there are several steps patients must integrate into their regular hygiene routine. Some of the best steps for caring for your dental implants include:

Brush Twice Daily

Just like natural teeth, dental implants should be brushed twice daily to remove plaque and bacteria from the surface of teeth.

Floss Daily

Patients with dental implants are at an increased risk of developing peri-implantitis, an inflammatory gum condition caused by the accumulation of plaque on the dental implant. Without treatment, this infection can compromise the long-term health of the smile as well as the longevity of the dental implant. Flossing at least once a day can help remove plaque and bacteria trapped between the teeth and prevent the accumulation of tartar at the gum line.

Use a Rubber Pick

In addition to daily brushing and flossing, dental implant patients should also consider adding soft-tipped dental picks into their dental hygiene routine. Used after brushing and flossing, patients run these rubber picks along the gum line, removing plaque that may have been left behind by brushing and flossing and is trapped in the space between the teeth. As this dental instrument is made of rubber, individuals don’t need to worry about scratching the implant or damaging the surrounding tissue.

Thoroughly Clean Prosthetic

Particularly for patients with removable overdentures, cleaning the prosthetic is an important part of maintaining a lasting implant-retained restoration. In addition to cleaning the prosthetic thoroughly with the correct materials, patients should also be careful to clean around the dental implant attachments, as this ensures that trapped food is removed daily and prevents plaque and bacteria from building up below the denture. 

Keep Regular Dental Visits

At-home oral hygiene is only part of the implant care process. In addition to maintaining a diligent hygiene routine at home, patients must also regularly visit their dentist for professional cleanings and check-ups. During these biannual visits, your dentist can ensure your implant is functioning properly and effective improving the overall health, function, and aesthetics of your smile.

In Northern Virginia, Dr. Snehal Patel and his team at Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants & Oral Surgery are committed to providing patients with restorative solutions that yield lasting results. By working closely with your general dentist, our Northern Virginia oral surgeon is able to ensure that your implant treatment contributes to the long-term wellbeing of your dentition. For more information about caring for your dental implants, as well as your available implant options, contact our Lorton orSpringfield oral surgery practices. 

The Long-term Impact of Childhood Oral Health

Often, the habits we learn as children stay with us as we enter adulthood. This is particularly true when considering oral health and hygiene, as the health of your smile during childhood frequently dictates the condition of your dentition as an adult. Your feelings towards dental visits, preventive care, and at-home oral hygiene are initially developed based on your experiences with dentistry as a child. As a result, ensuring positive dental experiences and thorough oral care during childhood are incredibly important.

Dental Conditions that Can Influence Your Future Oral Health
Often, conditions such as caries can greatly impact a child’s smile. As the nerves are larger in children’s teeth than they are in adult teeth, childhood tooth decay spreads much more aggressively, putting children at risk of requiring extensive treatments such as root canals and crowns in order to prevent further damage. In the long-run, such conditions compromise the patient’s oral health, creating an oral environment that may not encourage healthy dentition.

Thumb sucking can also cause long-term implications for the smile. Often, children outgrow thumb sucking between the ages of two and a half to three years of age. However, if the habit continues, it can have an impact different parts of the dentition, including the bite alignment, gums, jaws, and even the structure of the face. In the future, chronic thumb suckers may need orthodontics or even jaw surgery to correct the function and health of the mouth.

The Importance of Routine Visits
Regular visits to the dentist’s office are one of the most important aspects of preventive care regardless of age. During childhood, these visits are especially important as they provide patients and their parents with the opportunity to learn about important hygiene skills to be implemented at home. Furthermore, routine dental visits offer an important opportunity for dentists to monitor young smiles for changes in the dentition.

During these visits, your child’s smile will be monitored using advanced technology to ensure proper oral development and transition from primary to permanent teeth. These frequent visits also help the dentist identify whether certain long-term treatments will be needed in the future, such as orthodontics or wisdom teeth extraction.

In Lorton and Springfield, Northern Virginia oral surgeon Dr. Snehal Patel works closely with area dentists to help strategically plan extensive oral surgery procedures for patients in need. For more information about our referral program, contact your closest location today.

The Importance of Preventive Dental Care

When it comes to keeping your smile healthy, preventive dental care techniques are among the most important tools patients can adopt to protect their teeth and gums. Often, the consequences of failing to do so can have lasting effects on your oral and overall health. However, there are steps that can be incorporated into your oral hygiene routine to keep your smile healthy.

Start Early: Adopting an effective oral hygiene regimen early can be the key to lasting oral health. By incorporating good oral health habits early in life, patients have the opportunity to learn those crucial skills before their permanent teeth come in, ensuring that they know the right way to take care of their smile. Additionally, an early introduction to dental health can reduce the likelihood of developing dental fears or anxiety in the future. 

Brush, Floss, Rinse, Repeat: While this may seem redundant, establishing a consistent oral hygiene routine can minimize the opportunity for bacteria to develop in your mouth. By thoroughly brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day, patients can prevent plaque from hardening into tartar and causing gingivitis. Following these actions with an antibacterial mouthwash can further reduce the opportunity for plaque and bacteria to wreak havoc on your smile.

Eat Smile Healthy Foods: A balanced diet isn’t just good for your health. Good nutrition is crucial to maintaining healthy gums and avoiding tooth decay. Certain foods, like cheese, peanuts, yogurt and milk are great for protecting your teeth from plaque development. Limiting sugary food and beverage consumption can also help prevent plaque buildup. Additionally, individuals should avoid indulging in a bedtime snack, as food left on the teeth overnight can increase the chance of cavity development.

Visit the Dentist: According to the American Dental Association (ADA), individuals should visit the dentist twice a year for a routine professional cleaning. While these check-ups may seem unnecessary, they make up an important part of preventive dentistry and are a key element to lasting oral health. During these appointments, your general dentist will examine your entire mouth for abnormalities as well as signs of gum disease, dental decay, and oral cancer. Early identification of these conditions can prevent your dental visit turning from a routine check-up into an invasive restoration procedure.

By following these basic oral hygiene tips, you can keep your smile healthy and beautiful. However, in the event more extensive treatment is needed in order to re-establish your oral health, contact Dr. Patel and the team at Lorton-Springfield Dental Implants and Oral Surgery today. We offer a number of restoration and correction procedures customized to help patients regain lasting oral health.