One of the best things about dental implants is their amazing success rate. Since they’ve been a regular part of restorative dentistry, they’ve enjoyed an over 90% success rate in restoring and preserving people’s smiles following tooth loss. While much of that success is a direct result of their unique nature (dental implants are the only solution for replacing lost teeth roots), it also requires consistent care on the part of those who receive dental implants. That includes avoiding ways in which you might compromise your dental implants and/or restoration.
1. A poor hygiene routine
Before tooth loss occurs, a good dental hygiene routine is one of the most important factors in preventing it. That’s because the most common cause of tooth loss is gum disease, which develops when oral bacteria are allowed to remain on your gum line and work their way underneath the tissues. The infection these bacteria cause leads to the destruction associated with gum disease, which results in the significant loss of support for one or more of your teeth. Dental implants, which are designed to mimic healthy teeth roots, also rely on these structures for support. If your hygiene isn’t adequate and consistent enough, then your risks of developing an issue like gum disease and compromising your implant restoration will skyrocket.
2. A teeth-grinding habit
Dental hygiene and oral bacteria play significant roles in your oral health, but they only make up a factor of the potential threats to your teeth and implant restoration. For example, if you have a chronic teeth-grinding problem, known as bruxism, then you may be exposing your teeth and dental implant restoration to an extensive amount of pressure and friction. Untreated bruxism is a common cause of excessive tooth wear and damage, and it can cause similar harm to your replacement teeth if it continues.
3. An untreated dental condition
Untreated bruxism can directly threaten the structure and integrity of your dental implant restoration, but other oral health conditions can have different impacts that can also compromise your replacement teeth. For example, if you develop TMJ disorder (or temporomandibular joint disorder), then your bite’s function can become inhibited. Bruxism can be one consequence of TMJ disorder, and both conditions will grow worse if left untreated. Other potentially threatening conditions can include tooth decay in a tooth that’s near to your restoration, or the loss of another tooth after your implant restoration has been placed.
Learn how to preserve your dental implants
After replacing your lost teeth with dental implants, preserving the long-term health and integrity of your smile will require ensuring you don’t inadvertently compromise the restoration. To learn more, or to schedule a consultation, call Santa Rosa Oral Surgery in Santa Rosa, CA, today at 707-545-4625.
