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Friday, September 1, 2017

DENTAL IMPLANTS

Q: I have replaced my natural teeth with dental implants, do I have to brush still?


A: Yes. Dental implants are made of titanium and the material itself is not susceptible to dental decay. However, this is not the case for the gums that surround the dental implant supported crown/bridge/denture. Similar to natural tooth, bacteria can build up on the base of the implant, below the gum line. Bacteria can irritate the gums and cause it to be inflamed. If undetected or uncontrolled early, the gums and bone structure will be destroyed permanently.

There are 2 types of peri-implant diseases. Peri-implant mucositis is inflammation confined to the gum tissue without any bone loss. This, if untreated, can lead to peri-implantitis. Peri-implantitis is an infectious disease involving destruction of the gums and bone. This reduces the support for the dental implant, causing it to fail eventually. Signs of peri-implant disease are similar to that of gum disease, i.e. red, bleeding, tender gums. Sometimes you may even notice a gum swelling or pus expressed from the implant site.


Therefore, it is of utmost importance to continue with diligent and thorough oral care routines. That means brushing twice a day for at least 2 minutes each, floss daily and visit your dentist or periodontist 2 times a year. If you have a dental implant supported removable denture, the denture and implants should be cleaned separately. The removable denture is to be left out of the mouth in a glass of water while you’re sleeping. Dental implants should be checked routinely as part of a comprehensive periodontal evaluation.


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Dr Daylene Leong is Dental Specialist in Periodontics with Specialist Dental Group®, Singapore. She received her training in the specialty area of Periodontology from the University of Michigan, USA. Dr Leong is a Diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and a Fellow of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore. She has a special interest in dental implants, gingival aesthetic and plastic surgery and periodontal regeneration. For more information, visit www.specialistdentalgroup.com.

5 comments:


  1. Nice Blog Thank you for Sharing information. For Dental implants Treatment WP Dental Centre is Best choice in West Perth.

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  2. Sometimes dental implants work like magic to give you beautiful smile. Also these are somehow mandatory for the elderly group. But the problem with implants is they are very expensive. DentalSave is interested to help with those want an implant but cannot afford. Their discount offers are available for people to make dental implants affordable to them.

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  4. "Your blog post on dental implants as a boon for tooth replacement is truly enlightening. The way you've outlined the benefits, explained the procedure, and emphasized the positive impact on oral health is both comprehensive and encouraging. " deep dental cleaning







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