Mini dental implants can help you recapture a complete, healthy-looking smile after tooth loss. Secured to a tiny post anchored to the jawbone, these artificial teeth restore the look, feel and function of natural, strong teeth. The process to place them is quicker and less invasive than that of traditional dental implants.
With proper care and maintenance, your mini dental implants can last virtually forever. Read on as Dr. Matthew Warner of Willoughby Dental discusses how to care for mini dental implants.
Initial Recovery Period
Dr. Warner will provide you with detailed instructions explaining how to properly care for your mini dental implants in the days that follow their placement. You may be asked to use special products to care for the incision site, which might be sensitive or sore. As you adjust to your mini dental implants, you should eat soft foods only. You also may want to brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush and use a desensitizing toothpaste.
Observe Good Oral Hygiene Habits
Once you adjust to them, mini dental implants can be cared for like natural teeth. Ensure you brush them twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and floss once a day. A Water Pik is a very useful tool; the water flosser gently dislodges and removes plaque and bits of food debris that get stuck in the nooks and crannies between the teeth and below the gumline.
You should also see Dr. Warner every six months to a year so he can check on the mini dental implants and look for any potential problems.
Do Not Bite Down on Hard Objects
After your mini dental implants heal, you do not have any dietary restrictions. You can eat whatever you want, including chewy or crunchy foods. However, it is recommended that you do not bite down on pen caps, shells, ice or similar objects. Doing so could damage your mini dental implants.
Chronic tooth grinding and clenching can also put undue pressure on mini dental implants, particularly if they are in the back of the mouth. If you know that you grind or clench your teeth at night, you should be fitted for a custom nightguard to protect your teeth from excessive force.
Contact Us for More Information about Mini Dental Implants
If you have any questions about caring for mini dental implants, or if you are thinking of getting mini dental implants, please call or email Willoughby Dental today.
