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Dental Implant Tips for a Successful Recovery

The success rate of dental implants is high. According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), more than 95 percent of implants are successful.

Dental Implant Recovery Tips

But you can further boost your chances of a successful recovery by making wise decisions about your oral health care.

Below are our top tips for protecting your new replacement teeth.

Have an Oral Surgeon Place Your Dental Implants

General dentists can perform implant surgery, so why not just have yours done by your regular dentist?

Oral surgeons have extensive training beyond that of general dentists. After dental school, they attend several years of surgical classes, including specialized training in planning and placing dental implants. It makes sense to have your implant surgery performed by someone who has the knowledge and experience to do an expert job.

One recent study compared the outcome of implant surgery done by a specialist such as an oral surgeon with implants done by general dentists.

The success rate for implants done by dentists was lower than for those performed by oral surgeons. This suggests that implant surgery success is more likely when performed by an oral surgeon or specialist.

Take Proper Care of Your Dental Implants

Proper oral hygiene habits, including regular brushing and flossing, are important for everyone. But after you get implants, extra diligence and effort can help keep your mouth healthy and prevent implant failure.

Keeping the area around your dental implants clean is key. To do so, however, you may need to use a special toothbrush. Called an interdental brush, this type of toothbrush has a tiny head with small bristles that can fit between your natural teeth and your implants.

If flossing with regular dental floss is difficult — or if you’d like an easier method — you can try a water flosser that shoots water between your teeth.

Schedule Regular Exams of Your Dental Implants

For the best chance at implant success, regular checkups are necessary. You will need to see your oral surgeon every 3 to 6 months.

Why so often? Your oral surgeon needs to keep a close eye on your implants for signs of problems. Inflammatory diseases like peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis can onset without any obvious symptoms. Left untreated, they can lead to tissue and bone loss or implant failure.

And although you may be painstaking in your brushing and flossing, no amount of at-home oral health care can replace a professional cleaning. Professional cleanings can eliminate the bacteria, plaque and tartar trapped in the nooks and crevices around your implants.

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery of Utah has offices conveniently located throughout the Salt Lake City area. Contact us today to learn more about ensuring your oral health and well-being with dental implants.

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