One of the most important factors determining the future success of your All-on-4 implants is the day-to-day maintenance and upkeep. Unlike natural permanent teeth, these implants require more attention to cleanliness due to increased chances of plaque and bacteria buildup.
In this blog, we have provided helpful cleaning rituals and guidelines that you can follow to ensure a safe and hygienic oral environment for your implants. More than the hygiene benefits that these tips will provide, you will also feel the peace of mind that your All-on-4 implants are going to retain their quality and function longer.
What are All-on-4 Implants?
The All-on-4 implants treatment deals with the replacement of a full arch of teeth, making it an ideal solution for patients with multiple missing teeth. Four implants are anchored in the jawbone to act as the foundation for the arch. Thus the ‘4’ in ‘All-on-4’.
The metal ‘titanium’ is used for this purpose due to its biocompatibility, a term which means that the body will welcome it as a non-toxic element and will not give an adverse physiological reaction to it.
Two of these four implants are typically placed in the front part of the mouth where the bone is denser, the other two are put in the back at a specific angle.
The stability offered by these implants often bypasses the need for bone grafting as well. Another advantage of these implants is the possibility of having temporary teeth installed right away, on the same day of surgery, a technique called ‘immediate loading.’
The Importance of Maintaining Implant Hygiene
After surgery and installation of the implants, it is up to the patient to commit to the upkeep of their implants, barring regular checkups which are equally important. Neglecting this can lead to various complications that can hamper your implant success.
One of the major ones is peri-implantitis, a disease that creates inflammation around the implant site due to a buildup of bacterial plaque; this increase the possibility of pain and discomfort, as well as result in implant failure and bone loss if left unchecked.
Poor oral hygiene leads to an overabundance of bacteria. This can trigger a nasty case of inflammation which can make its way to the bone and cause degradation, ultimately leading to implant failure. Redness, swelling, pain, bleeding during brushing or flossing, are all early signs to look out for. Professional cleaning and care can go a long way in treating these problems in their nascent stages, therefore, regular checkups are also just as important as self care.
How to Clean All-on-4 Implants Effectively
Let’s direct our attention to the fundamentals of implant cleanliness. Use these as an additional resource for the information that your dentist has provided you. It should be mentioned that the regular use of toothpicks to pick out bits of food stuck in the teeth and implants will also be beneficial along with the following tips.
Brushing
The most paramount daily activity that influences the cleanliness of the implants the most is brushing. Let’s explore the best techniques for brushing All-on-4 dental implants.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush. The soft bristles of the brush will be gentle on the surface of your implants. They will also be soft on the gum lining. This prevents any harmful scratches or damage that a harder bristled toothbrush can cause.
You can also use interdental brushes or those that are made to take care of the specific cleaning needs of your implants, these usually have a small head to handle the unique implant angles and edges. They will also be able to get to hard-to-reach places where bacteria and plaque can make their home.
Usage
Perform a gentle, circular motion for two minutes until you are sure you have adequately reached all the nooks and crannies. Also, focus on all sides of the implants, especially the interface between the implant and gum, as that is the usual hangout for harmful bacteria. Make sure to delicately reach the gum lining and abutments without increasing pressure, as that can harm them.
Another point to mention is to stay away from abrasive toothpaste; the ingredients of an abrasive toothpaste can harm your teeth slowly and also compromise their integrity in the long term.
Flossing
Similar to brushing, flossing is also a very important part of oral hygiene. It is a complement to brushing as it aims to clean interdental areas where bacteria might linger, and the toothbrush cannot reach.
You can also use water flossers. A high pressure stream of water will be used to rinse away the pieces of food stuck in difficult places. These can reach areas that even traditional flosses cannot reach, especially under and around the prosthesis. Another benefit of these is that they will be gentle on your implants, as regular flosses may be abrasive and scratch or damage them.
There is also a type of dental floss made specifically for implants, they have a stiffened end that helps in threading the floss under the implant. They also have a spongy, soft segment which will be easy on the gum lining, and effective for cleaning in sensitive areas like the abutments.
Usage
Using the stiffened end, gently guide the floss under the prosthesis. Once you feel that it’s positioned quite well, perform a slow back and forth motion to remove any plaque or food stuck in those places. Flossing once daily should be considered a norm and should be usually done before you go to sleep, as that will prevent you from going to sleep with your implants free from bacteria.
After these steps are completed, you must clean the surface of your tongue. Perform a delicate circular motion with your brush all over your tongue area, then rinse with lukewarm water.
Finally, there might still be a chance that there are bacteria or particles of food in your mouth. Therefore it is important to use a non-alcoholic mouthwash in the end to clean any residue.
Conclusion
We talked about the various effective cleaning methods that those with ‘All-on-4’ implants need to perform in order to drastically reduce the chances of infection and disease in the implant area. If you are looking for more information or want to consult with industry leading, experienced professionals, you can visit us at Bay Area Implant Dentistry in Fremont, California. Contact us today to learn more!