Is the Dental Implant Prone to Cavities or Gum Disease?

Is the Dental Implant Prone to Cavities or Gum Disease?

dental implants San AntonioDental implants make a wonderful substitution for one or more teeth that failed to erupt properly or were lost due to trauma, disease, decay. Your implant dentist will meet with you to determine your best treatment plan for a successful implant procedure.

Patients that have previously suffered from gum disease may require additional treatment prior to implant placement. Periodontal disease can result in bone loss in gum tissue. A successful implant requires sufficient bone strength to keep the implant secure. However, a lack of bone does not necessarily mean you are eliminated from receiving dental implants. Rather, it indicates the need to build up the bone where implants are to be placed.

To enjoy a successful implant procedure, the patient must commit to the things needed to sustain the implant. Brushing, flossing, and rinsing with the prescribed anti-bacterial product recommended by your dentist are a few of the things the patient can do to reduce the chance for infection, the primary cause of implant failure.

Patients that use tobacco in any form are urged to quit. Smoking increases the odds of developing gum disease.

Once the implant area has healed and bone has attached to provide a strong base for the final step in the process, the permanent cover is cemented in place.

Whether you receive one implant or several, the final cosmetic restoration is usually made from porcelain. This provides the most natural cosmetic enhancement.

Dental decay does not impact porcelain. Cavities form when the enamel of a biological tooth is worn away or bacteria are allowed to enter a crack or settle into one of the pits that naturally form on teeth. Since porcelain is not live tissue, there is no concern for decay.

It is important to note that a dental crown that saves a natural tooth and the crown that covers an implant are similar, but do not perform the same function. A crown-covered tooth can still experience dental decay as the base of the natural tooth is still present. The restoration that completes the implant process is affixed to an abutment secured to the implant. The entire natural tooth is gone.

Daily brushing, flossing, and biannual visits to the dentist are still required to keep remaining natural teeth and cosmetic restorations healthy and looking their best.

Has it been awhile since your last cleaning, or are you interested in implants? Contact our office today to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists.