Factors Affecting Newly Placed Dental Implants

Ensuring your new dental implant has every chance of success.

Whilst many patients who visit the Darren Bywater Dental Implant Centre understand the need to avoid hard foods for a period of time following their implant placement, one of the biggest threats to newly placed implants is, in fact, gingivitis and especially periodontitis; both forms of gum disease.

Because, for a period of time after the implant has been placed, it is extremely important to keep the mouth in very good health, we have to insist that our implant patients refrain from smoking; at least during this period. The reason for this is to ensure that the implant is given time to become strongly fused with the bone in order to guarantee its stability, free from any external adverse effects.

Nicotine

One reason for our ‘ban’ on smoking is that nicotine restricts the blood flow as the blood vessels become narrow, and this, in turn, opens the area up to a stronger possibility of infection.

Another reason for us advising our patients not to smoke is that most smokers experience a dry mouth, especially whilst sleeping. This, in turn, allows the bacteria that cause gum disease to grow in number and threaten the health of the implant.

If you have ever run your tongue on your teeth after having a dry mouth at night, the sticky white substance you may find on your teeth is plaque, the bacteria that causes gum disease and which thrive in a warm environment such as a dry mouth.

Hydration

General dehydration should also be avoided to prevent a dry mouth. This is especially important in older people who may be more prone to it as a side effect of any medication they are taking. Blood pressure tablets which are often taken by older people are particularly (although not necessarily) likely to cause this side effect.

To prevent dehydration, it is essential to drink plenty of water throughout the day. With bottled water now being widely available, there should be little excuse not to stay hydrated even when away from home.

By staying hydrated, even though you may not feel especially thirsty at the time, the risk of ‘dry mouth’ is reduced, and with it, the risk of gum disease.

Long lasting implants

It is worth remembering that dental implants not only offer a very strong solution to replace a missing tooth but can also be expected to last for anything from twenty years onwards if looked after appropriately.

Although giving up smoking for a short time, avoiding hard foods and making the effort to drink plenty of water, may seem a little inconvenient, these guidelines are worthwhile to give your new implant the best chance of success.

If you have had a dental implant placed at our Derby practice, we are always happy to offer post implant advice and you can contact us on 01332 550933.

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