Dental implants are an excellent way to replace your lost and missing teeth.
In fact, some people consider implants to be like a third set of teeth after your primary and permanent teeth.
As great as dental implants can be — and they really can be great — you may not be able to receive them if your mouth is not healthy.
We have written previously about the importance of jawbone health for the placement and retention of your dental implants. Today, we will be addressing another issue that plays a role in whether you are able to receive implants.
That issue is gum disease.
It’s something our dentists check for at any Beaumont Family Dentistry location in Lexington, KY.
Before Your Implants Are Placed
You can have a strong jaw, but you also need healthy gums in order to receive dental implants.
When you visit us for a consultation, we will look for symptoms of periodontal disease. If we find anything, we will want to treat it and remove any infected tissue before we do anything else.
Many people are not aware that gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss among Americans. It doesn’t have to be that way, but for now, it is.
Your gums are vital to your oral health, but too many people neglect to do the things they should to keep their gums healthy. This means brushing and flossing on a daily basis. This mean visiting Beaumont Family Dentistry for regular cleanings and examinations.
And it means getting help when you notice the symptoms of gum disease.
If you ignore the bleeding, swollen gums and you ignore the sore and tender gums, then there may be other problems developing that you can’t see.
Pockets can form inside your gum tissue, where bacteria can grow and build plaque that can become tartar.
Your gum may begin to recede or separate from your teeth, and the disease may even attack the bone where the roots of your teeth are anchored in place.
This is when your teeth a can start to feel loose or fall out.
Putting dental implants in someone who’s mouth was still in this condition would be ineffective.
The bone and the gum tissue may need to be restored before any teeth replacement procedure could start. This can be accomplished with bone or gum grafts if needed.
After Implant Placement
Once your dental implants are in place, it’s important that you continue to keep your mouth healthy.
Getting implants is a great way to restore the appearance of natural and the function of your natural teeth. You don’t want to jeopardize that by ignoring your oral hygiene.
You will still need to brush and you will still need to use dental floss or another kind of tool to remove bacteria from your mouth.
The flossing techniques may be a little different with implants, but they are still important. A great option is a water irrigator, also called a water flosser.
This may allow you to better target those space between your dentures or dental bridge and your gum tissue that you can’t clean with your toothbrush.
Peri-implantitis
Gum infections that occur in or around dental implants are sometimes referred to as peri-implantitis.
From a practice standpoint, this can look quite similar to gum disease. Your gums can become red, swollen, or sore. Your gums may bleed when you brush your teeth.
Just like gum disease, this also can damage the bone around your implants, which can affect their security and their stability.
Your risk of peri-implantitis increases if you are a smoker, you do not practice good oral hygiene, or if you have diabetes.
Fortunately, peri-implantitis is treatable. If you notice any of these symptoms, call use as soon as you can to make an appointment.
Preventive Care Can Go A Long Way
Good oral hygiene is important no matter if you have all your teeth, are considering dental implants, or already have implants.
By developing good dental health habits, including routine examinations at Beaumont Family Dentistry, you may never need to replace any teeth. Should a tooth replacement become necessary, the team at our dentist offices in Lexington, KY, will gladly help you restore your smile.
Just remember that your gum health can affect whether you can receive implants and how well your implants will remain in place.
If you have any questions about dental implants, gum disease, or any of our other services, please call any of our locations or make an appointment using our online contact form.