Tackling Your Dental Treatment Plan

Tackling Your Dental Treatment Plan

About Me

Tackling Your Dental Treatment Plan

Hi! My name is Addy Reed. I’m 57 years old and have been neglectful about going to the dentist. Last month was my first dentist visit in six years. I had always been diligent about twice a year cleanings and checkups, but time got away from me until one of my crowns came out. As we age, the dental work from years past tends to do that. When you neglect to visit the dentist on a regular basis, the list of things that need to be done may grow; at least this was my experience. I left the dentist office with an extensive list of things I needed to have done. The office staff was very kind. They are working with me to set up a plan. I’m going to share some ideas on how to tackle a dental treatment plan, keeping it affordable and not too overwhelming.

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Dental Implant Failure: Prevention Tips

18 August 2017
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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Getting a dental implant is a great way to improve your smile and protect adjacent teeth if you're missing a tooth. A more comfortable alternative than dentures for many people, implants can last 25 years or more if they're properly cared for, according to AZ Family Dentistry.

If you get an infection near your implant or if your jawbone doesn't fuse properly with the metal post placed in your mouth for the crown to screw to, you could end up with a failed dental implant that will require additional care and treatment. While not all implant failures can be prevented, there are several things you can do to minimize your risk.

Practice Good Oral Hygiene

Taking care of a dental implant isn't much different than taking care of your natural teeth -- brush at least twice a day and floss daily. But immediately following your implant placement, you'll want to be a little extra gentle. Consider purchasing a toothbrush with softer bristles than you normally use if you typically use a stiff-bristled brush. Your gums might be tender around the implant for several days, so use an alcohol-free antibacterial rinse to make sure they're clean if brushing them leads to bleeding. You don't want any open sores or exposed tissue in your mouth that could increase your chance of infection.

Protect Your Teeth

Placing extra stress on your jawbone or getting hit in the mouth with hard objects could cause your implant to shift or break, which will ultimately lead to failure. Be sure to wear mouthguards while playing sports to avoid damaging your implant. If you grind your teeth in your sleep, you'll want to wear a mouthguard at night as well.

Watch Your Diet

Stick to soft, non-acidic foods for the first few days after getting your implant. You don't want to eat anything that could get caught in your teeth or wedge into your gum tissue acting as a pathway for bacteria. Keeping your bone density high is important so that your jawbone can fuse with the implant post, so include plenty of calcium sources in your diet or take a supplement. Avoid biting down on hard candies or other highly crunchy foods on the side with your implant to keep it strong and healthy.

Above all else, follow all of your dentist's directions for taking care of your teeth after you get your new implant and make regular appointments for checkups and cleanings to keep your implant looking and feeling great for years to come. Contact an office, like Aaron G Birch, DDS PC, to get started.