A brand new, functional smile with full mouth dental implants can feel like a dream come true. Suddenly you’re able to eat all your favorite foods again, and talk and laugh confidently with a beautiful smile. Most likely, you want to do your best to keep your new smile as healthy as possible, even if it isn’t made up of real teeth. You still need to maintain your daily oral hygiene routine, though it will be slightly different than what you may have been used to in the past.
HOW FULL MOUTH DENTAL IMPLANTS HELP PATIENTS
Not familiar with all the benefits of full mouth dental implants? Are you familiar with the concept of dental implants but unsure exactly what full mouth dental implants are? Prepare to be excited because full mouth dental implants are both an evolution of implant dentistry and a revolutionary treatment for people missing all the teeth in the upper or lower arch.
Full mouth dental implants rely on the precise placement of several individual dental implants to hold and stabilize a natural-looking restoration. The prosthetic restoration is custom-built based on parameters created by specialized software. You can expect that your prosthetic will fit comfortably and restore nearly all the functions of your natural teeth. Plus, you can depend on the implants to stimulate the surrounding bone, effectively reducing jawbone loss.
How many dental implants will you need to support your full mouth dental implants will depend upon the doctor’s expert recommendation. In many cases, as few as four implants can support full mouth dental implants, although some patients experience better outcomes with more dental implants. Once your implants and permanent restoration are in place, you can expect to have a lifetime of pleasure as long as you take care of your gums and the restoration.
DO FULL ARCH DENTAL IMPLANTS REALLY NEED TO BE CLEANED, THOUGH?
It might seem kind of strange to think about developing special cleaning habits after you’ve gotten your brand new full arch dental implants. After all, aren’t full arch dental implants supposed to be extremely low-maintenance?
You bring up a good point, but low maintenance isn’t the same as no maintenance. For example, let’s say that you buy yourself a low-maintenance car, but you still have to take care of it or it will eventually stop working correctly. The same can be true when buying affordable full arch dental implants. Yes, they’re very easy to care for, but you still have to give them a little TLC. When you do, you get the benefit of being able to rely on them season after season.
The good news is that you do not have to run out and buy lots of special equipment or materials beyond what you would normally get at the grocery store or drug store to clean your natural teeth. In fact, you will find that you end up using a lot of the same cleaning and preparatory materials for your full mouth dental implants. The point is not to make you do anything differently but to help you understand that you cannot stop caring for your oral health just because you have full mouth dental implants. Regular oral care, observation, and—if needed—a call to your dentist or implant specialist if you have any concerns can go a long way.
GETTING PREPARED WITH ALL THE RIGHT CLEANING “TOOLS” FOR YOUR FULL ARCH DENTAL IMPLANTS
Before jumping into all the different methods for keeping your full arch dental implants in pristine condition, you should make sure you have the right hygiene equipment for the job. Don’t worry: You can find these items at your home or at a nearby pharmacy, grocery, or big box retailer.
- Soft-bristled toothbrushes
- Oral-surgeon recommended toothpaste
- Waxed dental floss (it slides more easily in and around your implants)
- Gum stimulator outfitted with a rubberized tip
- Mouth rinse (if applicable to your case and recommended by an oral surgeon)
- At this point, you’re ready to get started!
HERE’S THE BEST WAY TO CLEAN YOUR FULL MOUTH DENTAL IMPLANTS:
Brush Twice Daily
Your bridge of teeth can accumulate plaque and tartar buildup, just like natural teeth. It’s important to brush your dental implant bridge twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid this happening. While your actual bridge of teeth won’t get cavities, you’ll want to protect your natural gum tissue and dental implants.
Use Nonabrasive Toothpaste
The type of toothpaste you use is equally as important as brushing your teeth twice a day. Since dental implant bridges don’t stain as natural teeth do, an abrasive toothpaste with stain-removing agents isn’t necessary for your bridge. Ask your oral surgeon about brands of toothpaste specifically for dental implants.
Floss Once A Day
It’s also important to use a water flosser or dental floss to remove any food debris from between your bridge of teeth and your gumline. This ensures that no plaque hardens into tartar and releases bacteria that can infect your gums around the dental implants. It may be beneficial to add a rubber tip stimulator or sulcus brush to your list of oral hygiene tools as well.
Try A Mouth Rinse
Do you like the feeling of having incredibly fresh breath? Talk to the oral surgeon who places your full arch dental implants in Plymouth or Sandwich, MA about adding a mouth rinse to your oral care routine. Mouth rinses can leave your mouth tasting great and free from unwanted germs and bacteria. They can also help keep your dental implant bridges from getting discolored over time. Just make sure you only use the mouth rinse brands or types suggested by an oral surgeon.
Schedule An Appointment
Routine oral hygiene and appointments to your oral surgeon can help ensure your new smile with dental implants last for many years. If you’re noticing your gums appear redder and more swollen or bleed around your dental implant(s), contact an oral surgeon today!
MAKE AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF YOUR SMILE
Full arch dental implants are more than just nice-to-consider treatments. They can completely transform your life by giving you back the smile you thought you had lost forever. Be sure to take care of your full arch dental implant bridges the right way with a little daily pampering. You’ll love the return you get on your investment!
Need to talk to an oral surgeon about full arch dental implants? Contact Lane Oral Surgery in Plymouth, Sandwich, or Bourne MA to talk with one of our doctors, William F. Lane, DMD and William M. Lane, MD, DMD, MBA today!
