Taking Care of a Dental Implant

Caring for your smile is something that you’ll have to do for life. If you lose one or more teeth, then the quality of that care will be especially important for preserving the rest of your oral health. With dental implants, restoring your smile after tooth loss is a much more successful and comprehensive process. However, benefiting from dental implants means properly caring for them to ensure that they remain healthy, vital parts of your oral health. Fortunately, dental implants are made specifically to mimic your natural teeth, and therefore, caring for dental implants is typically just as simple as caring for the rest of your smile.

What Is a Dental Implant?
The root of a tooth is the part that you can’t see, but it’s the anchor that holds your tooth securely in place as you bite and chew. It also stimulates your jawbone, promoting a healthy flow of nutrients throughout your oral structures. When you lose a tooth, the root is also lost and can no longer provide this stimulation. To address this, your dentist can recommend a dental implant, which is a small, root-like post that is inserted into the jawbone in place of the lost tooth root. Once the implant is in place, your dentist can secure a lifelike dental crown to the post, replacing the visible part of your tooth, as well.

Caring for Your Implants and Restoration
With an implant-supported restoration in place, you can once again enjoy a full, healthy, and beautiful smile. To keep it healthy, though, you’ll have to care for your implant as well as you care for the rest of your teeth. Be sure to brush at least twice every day with a soft-bristled toothbrush, and to floss at least once a day between every tooth, including your implant-supported crown. Also, attend a dental checkup and cleaning appointment as often as your dentist recommends to ensure that your teeth and dental implant remain healthy for life.

Learn More About Caring for a Dental Implant
In addition to their long-term benefits for your oral health, dental implants are also easier to take care of, making them a more comfortable and convenient tooth replacement option. To schedule a consultation, call Oxnard Dentistry in Oxnard, CA, today at (805) 604-9999. We also proudly serve patients from in and around Camarillo, Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Moore Park, and all surrounding communities.