Cleaning Implant-Supported Dentures

Implant-supported dentures are simple to clean at home but it is important that you see your dentist at the very least twice a year for professional cleanings. Oral hygiene is always important and if you have implant-supported restorations, failure to maintain a good oral hygiene system can lead to periodontal disease and cause your implants to fail. Just because you do not have your natural teeth does not mean that you can’t skip out on oral hygiene!

Professional Dental Cleanings

Maintaining a regular schedule for professional cleanings is extremely important if you have an implant-supported denture. During these cleanings, your dentist will remove the denture so that your hygienist can clean each individual implant as well as your denture. This will also allow your dentist to inspect the implants and the denture to make sure that everything is in good shape and that nothing needs to be repaired or replaced. It is important to allow your dentist to take x-rays once a year as well. Your dentist will use these x-rays to ensure the integrity of your jawbone structure and make sure that the implant is still healthy under the surface.

Oral Home Care

A lot of patients find that a WaterPik is incredibly helpful for cleaning under their dental prosthesis. Since your implant-supported denture is fixed and you cannot remove yourself, it is important that you take care to brush your gum tissue to stimulate blood flow along the cusp of your denture. Stimulating your gum tissue helps keep them clean of debris buildup and healthy and pink. You may be able to use a small brush to actually brush under your denture as well. It is also important to be sure you use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a non-abrasive toothpaste so that you do not scratch your denture.

Something that all patients should consider is being fit for a nightguard. Almost everyone suffers from some degree of bruxism whether they know it or not. Bruxism is the unconscious clenching and grinding that a lot of us do in our sleep. A nightguard helps to protect your teeth or your denture from the effects of bruxism and can even help you sleep better.

What is the lifespan of an implant-supported denture?

With proper care and regular check-ups and maintenance with your Dentist, your implant-supported denture can last a lifetime. Having implants placed is actually very good for your jawbone structure and implants are usually a permanent solution. You may have to have your denture repaired from time to time or even replaced but your implants have the potential to easily last forever if you are healthy and take good care of them!

As with any dental prosthesis, you may have a period of adjustment learning to speak and eat with your new prosthesis but most patients find that they become accustomed to their implant-supported denture more easily than a traditional denture.

Having implants placed is a surgical procedure so not everyone is a candidate for an implant-supported denture. If this is something that you were interested in, speak with your dentist to determine if an implant-supported denture is right for you.

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