When you had natural teeth, you dreaded getting cavities. Not only can they be painful and annoying, but they involve getting a crown or filling or even undergoing root canal treatment. Now that you have dental implants, you might wonder whether your prosthetic teeth could get cavities as well. Do dental implants need to be maintained to prevent decay?
Learn the truth by continuing to read the content below.
Can Dental Implants Get Cavities?
Simply put, no, dental implants will not become infected with tooth decay. Although implants consist of biocompatible materials that fuse to the jawbone like real teeth, titanium and ceramic dental prosthetics are impervious materials to acidic erosion, unlike natural enamel. In other words, you don’t have to worry about getting cavities if you have dental implants.
However, don’t let this information lull you into a false sense of security. Your dental implants need to be properly cared for if you want them to last.
Why Dental Implants Still Require Maintenance
Even though the implants themselves can’t succumb to cavities like natural teeth, the supporting gum and bone tissue can still become infected, which can put your implant at risk of failure. Allowing plaque to accumulate on your implants enables bacteria to harm your gums and jawbone, weakening the bond with prosthetic teeth. As a result, your implants can feel loose or come out entirely. As a result, you must continue to take care of them.
How to Keep Your Dental Implants in Excellent Condition
Although dental implants are among the most complicated dental treatments, maintaining them is surprisingly simple: you care for them just as you would real teeth. Every day, you must brush and floss your teeth to clear away plaque, food debris, and bacteria. Then, you need to attend regular checkups with your dentist at least every six months. If an issue arises, they can identify and treat it early enough that it won’t interfere with your implants.
Other helpful care tips include drinking more water, eating a nutritious diet, wearing a mouthguard while you play sports, and using your teeth to eat food only.
In the end, your dental implants may be strong enough to avoid erosion and decay, but infection can still put them in danger of failure. By keeping up good oral hygiene habits and making healthy lifestyle choices, you can preserve your dental implants and continue enjoying your restored smile year after year without worrying about tooth repairs.
About the Practice
With six locations around the Lincoln area, you will find a Williamsburg Dental close to you! Our dentists come highly trained and experienced in even the most complex treatments, including dental implants. In fact, we handle the entire process in-house for your convenience. If you have questions about dental implants, reach out to one of our locations to schedule an appointment with us.