Did you know that an estimated 3 million people in the U.S. have at least one implant and an additional 500,000 implants are placed each year? Implants have become such a popular way to replace missing teeth because they look and feel more natural than any other option. They also have a success rate of 98%, which is reassuring for anyone who invests in an implant. But although 98% is very high, implants still occasionally fail for multiple reasons. If you’re interested in dental implants in Dallas GA and would like to know how to increase your chance of success, keep reading for 5 great tips below!
1. Don’t Smoke
For smokers, the success rate of implants drops from 98% to about 85%. Smoking interferes with your ability to heal, which is crucial for the implant to fuse with the surrounding jawbone and become stable.
2. Maintain Good Hygiene
Dental implants can’t get cavities, but they can fail if the surrounding gum tissue and underlying bone aren’t healthy. It’s essential to gently but thoroughly brush around an implant at least twice a day and floss once.
Also, don’t hesitate to ask your dentist or hygienist for a demonstration of how to floss because implants require a different technique than natural teeth.
3. Get Regular Checkups
Regular checkups are important so that any small problems can be caught and treated as early as possible. It’s also an opportunity to get a professional cleaning, which goes a long way towards keeping the gum tissue around your implant clean and healthy.
4. Protect Your Implant From Clenching and Grinding
Nighttime clenching and grinding puts an incredible amount of pressure on both natural teeth and implants. It can prevent an implant from fusing with the jawbone after it’s placed or it can make an implant loose at any point after it’s been done.
If you clench or grind, a dentist might recommend a nightguard to protect your implant and increase its chance of success.
5. Choose an Experienced Dentist
Although it’s relatively rare, sometimes implants fail because an error was made during the initial procedure. It’s always a good idea to ask a dentist about their training, experience and how many implants they’ve placed.
Also, think twice about “bargain implants” because they may be done with inferior materials or techniques. An implant is an investment that will last for decades if it’s done well and maintained properly, so it’s worth it to make sure it’s done by an experienced, well-qualified dentist!
About the Author
Dr. Jack Bickford is an award-winning general and implant dentist in Dallas GA who has built many long-lasting relationships with his patients. In addition to providing top-notch dental care, he also teaches people how to make sure their implant procedures are as successful as possible. If you have any other questions about making sure your implants are successful, he can be reached via his website or at (770) 445-6606.
