Clean & Maintain Dental Implants
The process for cleaning on and around dental implants can differ from caring for the natural teeth in two ways. To start, the way in which the implant attaches to the surrounding bone and gums differs from that of the natural teeth. In addition, the materials used to create an implant differ from natural tooth material.
Dental implants are used to replace the root portion of a tooth. The artificial crown, bridgework or denture is then attached to the implant. Between the implant post and the crown, is an abutment which connects the prosthetic tooth to the implant. The success of an implant is largely based on its ability to fuse to the bone. Most implants are created using titanium. Which is a material which fuses to bone through osseointegration and does not cause any harm to the body. Titanium is also a non-allergenic material.
Above the bone, the abutment touches the gum tissue. This is supported by connective tissue, or fibers from collagen which is a tough material. These fibers run below the surface and parallel to the implant. They end at the top of the bone and securely hold the gum tissues firmly against the implant.
The root of a natural tooth is attached to the bony socket which surrounds i. This is secured by a periodontal ligament. This ligament is made up of tiny fibers which insert into the bone on one side and the root of the tooth on the other. Directly above the bone, these fibers attach from the tooth into the gum. Implants do not have this type of attachment. Because the periodontal ligament has a greater blood vessel supply for transferring cells and nutrients, it can more easily fight off and resist infection.
Just like good oral hygiene is critical for maintaining the natural teeth, cleaning and maintaining the implant is also vital. Both the implant and natural tooth rely on the healthy surrounding tissues for adequate support. Plaque, or bacterial biofilm, can also collect on the implant crowns just as it does on the natural teeth. It is important to remove this at home on a daily basis. When a patient fails to remove the daily biofilm, an infection can develop which is called peri-implantitis. Contrary to inflammation which occurs around the teeth, this type of infection can be catastrophic and the loss of the bone can rapidly progress to the failure of the implant.
Dental professionals play an important role in preventing infection in the implant. There are numerous factors which should be considered when selecting the right instruments to use with a professional cleaning. These factors can include the type of debris being removed. This can include debris which is soft such as that from biofilm and food, or hard from calcified calculus or tartar. Other factors include where the debris is located, where it has accumulated, and how difficult it is to properly remove.
It is important that the hygienist or dental professional selects instruments to use for cleaning which will not cause damage to the implant, abutment, or crown. It is also critical to maintain a polished and smooth surface on the abutment and crown. When these components are scratched or damaged, they can collect bacteria. Instruments which are commonly used for cleaning, called scalers and curettes, are typically created from plastics and resins. Metal instruments can be used to clean the natural teeth as they do not scratch as easily.
There are also various power or ultrasonic instruments which contain nylon or plastic tips and help reduce the chances of damaging the implant. These instruments clean through the use of high-frequency vibrations. This is often necessary when there is a large amount of debris which has accumulated over time. These instruments are typically used on a lower power setting and adequate water irrigation. In some cases, an antibacterial solution is also used to prevent infection.