Due to their comfort, natural appearance, and longevity, dental implants are a popular choice for tooth replacement, but it is critical to avoid complications such as peri-implantitis after surgery. Let’s explore why avoiding peri-implantitis is vital to maintaining a healthy dental implant over time.
What Is Peri-Implantitis?
Even though dental implants have an impressive success rate of 90-95% even after ten years1, a small percentage of patients experience peri-implantitis after surgery. Peri-implantitis is an inflammatory disease that causes bone loss and damage to the soft and hard tissue of the gums around the dental implant site. This is a severe condition that often leads to premature dental implant loss.
There are two categories that periodontists classify peri-implant disease into. Peri-implant mucositis is a mild and reversible condition. Left untreated, however, it turns into peri-implantitis.
- peri-implant mucositis – inflammation is confined to the soft tissue surrounding the dental implant with no sign of bone loss. Generally, peri-implant mucositis is the early stage of peri-implantitis.
- peri-implantitis – gum inflammation is found not only in the soft tissue but there is also deterioration in the jawbone, which supports the dental implant.
5 Tips For Avoiding Peri-Implantitis After Dental Implant Surgery
After dental implant surgery, the last thing you want to worry about is peri-implant conditions affecting your gum tissue and jawbone, causing you to lose your new implant and undergo painful peri-implantitis treatment.
For the best chances of dental implant success, here are five essential practices for decreasing the risk of getting peri-implantitis:
#1: Curb Your Tobacco Habit
Tobacco comes with a slew of adverse health risks, including periodontal disease, oral cancer, and even peri-implantitis, as studies have revealed that smokers have a higher occurrence of peri-implant diseases than non-tobacco users.2
#2: Follow All Aftercare Advice
Peri-implantitis can be particularly harmful right after dental implant surgery. Therefore, it is important to follow the aftercare advice of your periodontist to keep the implant site healthy and clean for a seamless healing process.
Your periodontist will give you specific dental implant care instructions.
#3: Keep Diabetes Under Control
If you struggle with diabetes, you already have an increased risk of developing peri-implantitis. More specifically, studies found that those with diabetes have a 50% higher risk of peri-implantitis than people without diabetes.3 For this reason, it is crucial to have your diabetes well-managed and under control before dental implant surgery. It will be crucial to maintain good control of your diabetes post-implant procedure, as well.
#4: Always Practice Excellent Oral Hygiene
Because peri-implantitis often occurs from plaque and bacteria buildup at a dental implant site, it is crucial to practice excellent oral hygiene after dental implant surgery. This includes brushing and flossing twice a day and attending routine periodontal cleaning and maintenance appointments.
#5: Recognize The Signs and Symptoms of Peri-Implant Mucositis
If you notice any of the signs and symptoms of peri-implant mucositis or peri-implantitis, you should contact your periodontist immediately.
The signs and symptoms of peri-implant disease are similar to that of gingivitis, or gum disease. Signs of peri-implant conditions include red or tender gums around the implants. You may also experience bleeding around the implant when brushing or flossing. Other symptoms of peri-implantitis can include the perception of a loose or shifting dental implant, swelling or pain around the implant, bad breath, and/or a foul taste.
Avoid Peri-Implantitis With The Help Of Dental Implants & Periodontal Health of Rochester
To ensure successful dental implant surgery and reduce the risk of peri-implantitis, our periodontists at Dental Implants & Periodontal Health of Rochester are ready to help. Contact us online or call us at 585.685.2005 to get started today.
Sources:
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5774056/#ref1
[2] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23237585/
[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28346753/
