I have a dental Implant.
The importance of dental implant maintenance
Dental implants, for most patients, typically require the same amount of daily care as natural teeth. However, if you have a history of periodontal disease or lost your natural teeth from periodontal disease, then you may be at risk for bone loss around your dental implants (peri-implantitis). Peri-implantitis is bacterial disease that occurs around dental implants in a similar manner to periodontal disease, except that the disease, once initiated, causes bone loss at a much quicker rate. It is generally a painless disease until the later stages. Implant maintenance appointments are critical to evaluate your dental implants and catch development diseases early before infection and bone loss develop.
Critical items that are evaluated during an implant maintenance appointment:
- The pocket depths around your implant(s)
- Evidence of bleeding and/or pus
- Mobility of the implant itself or the implant restoration (crown)
- The contacts between your teeth
- Your bite
- An X-ray to evaluate the bone levels below the gum
Disease caught early is easy to treat, whereas disease caught late can be a time consuming and expensive process to treat. It is even possible to lose an implant due to peri-implantitis if it is beyond the scope of current treatment modalities.
Protect your investment and make sure that you keep your dental implants maintained. At Ward Periodontics, we custom design your dental implant maintenance for your specific needs.
Protect your smile and your implants. Schedule a visit to Ward Periodontics Today!