According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, approximately three million Americans have dental implants and that number is growing by 500,000 per year. More and more patients are choosing dental implants over other restorative options for their natural appearance and lasting power.
While dental implants can be more costly and time-consuming, they are also designed to last a lifetime with the proper placement and care. With that being said, think of your treatment as an investment — you’ll want to do everything you can to ensure your dental implants last for years to come.
The most common threat to dental implant success is known as peri-implantitis, which is the infection of the tissue surrounding the implant.
Protect Your Dental Implants & Avoid Peri-Implantitis
If you suspect you may have peri-implantitis, it’s important to seek help from your Fort Worth dental implant provider as soon as possible. Some of the symptoms to look out for include:
- Metal thread exposure
- Lengthening of tooth
- Excessive bleeding
- Deepening of gum pockets
- Pus around the implants or gum tissue
The Most Common Causes of Peri-Implantitis
In general, the most common causes of peri-implantitis can be attributed to two main reasons:
Poor Diagnosis: Are you more susceptible to infections? Do you have a medical condition that inhibits your ability to recover from surgery? These are all questions that should be addressed prior to treatment. Dr. Snider will address these concerns beforehand, to help reduce your risk of dental implant failure due to peri-implantitis.
Poor Oral Hygiene: It goes without saying that keeping the surgical site free from bacteria is critical. Maintaining an oral hygiene routine, which includes brushing twice a day and flossing at least once per day, will remove harmful bacteria that leads to infection.
To help keep the area clean, consider investing in the following oral hygiene tools:
- Manual or electric toothbrush will small soft bristles
- Antimicrobial mouthwash
- Water flosser to gently clean gum tissue around the implant
Contact Lake Country Dental
If you have additional questions regarding dental implants or anything regarding your oral health, don’t hesitate to contact our office. Here at Lake Country Dental, we offer a wide variety of dental services to address each patient’s individual case.
Get started today by contacting our office to schedule your no-obligation consultation with Dr. Snider!