Lester M. Lubitz D.D.S. & Richard E. Lamping D.D.S.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 513.769.5545 Sharonville 513.677.3003 Mason
Maintenance Your surgeon and restorative dentist will schedule periodic check-up visits to make sure your jaws are healthy and the implants and prosthesis are functioning properly. Just as important as regular professional care, however, is your own care of your implants and prosthesis. Following are guidelines for proper maintenance of your implants. Practice meticulous home oral hygiene, following the instructions of your dentist and hygienist. Abutment posts, beneath the prosthesis, artificial teeth, and gum tissue must be kept clean. Home care aids such as special brushes and floss holders will help you accomplish this. If you do not keep your implants and prosthesis clean, your implants may fail. Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption as well as chewing hard foods such as ice or hard candy may result in damage to your implants or cause them to fail. While there is no guarantee of 100 percent success with dental implants, with careful planning by your surgeon and restorative dentist prior to surgery, and proper maintenance by you, you can expect many years of use from your implants. In fact, current literature reports that 90 percent or more of implants have been successfully retained for up to 15-20 years. Thousands of people have rediscovered the joy of eating properly, speaking clearly and laughing comfortably through the use of dental implants. Special brushes and flosses help maintain good oral hygiene. .... |
