Mistakes to Avoid When Caring for Dental Implants 

Replacing your missing teeth with dental implants in Lake Worth will significantly improve your oral health and boost your confidence. Besides making you feel comfortable smiling in photos again, your custom-fit, artificial teeth also restore your chewing power. However, just like any other tooth-replacement solution, they require optimal care to last a lifetime.

Mistakes You Should Avoid When Caring for Your Dental Implants

Ignoring Your Mouth’s Need for Recovery

The implant posts fuse with your jawbone through the process of osseointegration. Since osseointegration takes several months to complete, you’ll have to plan for a recovery period. Ignoring the need for recovery can have a significant impact on the outcome of your procedure.

Assuming That Dental Implants Resolve Bruxism

Some people believe that dental implants will solve existing oral health issues such as bruxism. Unless you talk to your dentist about using a bite plate during your recovery period, the involuntary clenching and grinding of teeth can cause your implants to fail.

Using Tobacco Products

Besides increasing the risk of infection after the procedure, smoking also slows down your gums’ recovery process. The American Dental Association recommends quitting smoking weeks before their dental implant surgery. If you want to ensure dental implant success, it’s best to break this bad habit as soon as possible.

Skipping Your Follow-up Visits

Your dentist will want to keep tabs on you until osseointegration is complete. Follow-up appointments allow your dentist to monitor your recovery process, check your implants, and detect treatable issues right away.

Poor Oral Health

Although caring for your implants is similar to how you care for your natural teeth, assuming that you won’t need to put much effort into implant care is a huge mistake. It’s important to follow your dentist’s instructions about how long you should wait after your surgery before brushing your teeth. After that, you’ll have to brush at least twice a day and rinse with mouthwash.

Do You Need Dental Implants in Lake Worth?

Dr. Miguel Ferrer, DDS, brings over two decades of experience to the dental chair. You can rest easy knowing that your care is in great hands. Contact us today to make an appointment.