Dental implants have a very high survival rate. However, even though you will not get a cavity on an implant, you can still get gum disease. Bacteria on the gums that cause gingivitis attack the gums and the bone around the implant.
Unlike natural teeth, dental implants do not have ligament surrounding it. Consequently, there is direct contact between bone and implant surface.
Plaque The most notable risk factor for peri-implant disease is poor plaque control.
Previous Periodontal Disease Prospective studies have shown that patients with a history of generalized aggressive periodontitis are more susceptible to peri-implantitis.
Heavy bites Grinding and clenching cause stress on teeth and implants
Diabetes Just as periodontitis is more common in persons with diabetes, poor sugar control is also associated with peri-implant disease. There is increased inflammation in the gum tissue with patients with diabetes. In addition, the blood vessels in the gum tissue constrict more and there is poor blood supply.
Smoking Smoking causes the blood vessels in the gum and bone to constrict and reduce the blood supply to the tissues.
Toothbrushes In general, electro-mechanical toothbrushes have been shown to be more effective in plaque removal than manual toothbrushes.
Mouthwashes There is robust evidence that mouthwash formulations containing chlorhexidine and essential oils have statistically significant antiplaque and antigingivitis activity.42 The same meta-analysis also concluded that the anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis effects of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) mouthwashes are formulation- dependent.
Missing a tooth? If you’re considering dental implants and you have more questions about how to properly care for them. Contact Premiere Smile Center in Fort Lauderdale and schedule an appointment with Dr. Johnson.
