Philadelphia Implant Dentist Treatment Options

Dental Implant Treatment Options

Implant Treatment Options



Single Tooth Implant Replacement

Full Upper Arch Implant Replacement

Posterior Implant Replacement

Full Lower Arch Implant Replacement

Implants and Bridges








Single Implant

Several Teeth With a Bridge

For more information about dental implants Philadelphia, visit www.theperiogroup.com or call (215) 735-3660 to schedule an appointment with a Philadelphia implant dentist.

Good Home Hygiene Can Be the Key to Dental Implant Longevity

Good oral hygiene is incredibly important when it comes to dental implants and can be a contributing factor to the longevity of the implant components. It is critical that patients prioritize good home care and receive proper instruction so that they do not lapse into ineffective habits.

Home Care Techniques

Dental implants require special oral hygiene techniques. Depending on what type of prosthesis has been placed on the implant, different home care techniques can be recommended.

A removable appliance allows access to the implant-retained bar, and an interdental brush and small cleaners are usually adequate because patients are working in a relatively large space. However, fixed restorations require proper brushes and flossing techniques.

While many home hygiene instruments are being designed with dental implants in mind, an adaptation of traditional instrumentation needs to be used with the special needs of an implant in minds. For example, metal tools such as interproximal brushes with a stainless steel core wire must be avoided. The stainless steel wire can easily cause damage to the soft titanium metal in the implant.

Instead, the following techniques should be employed:

Manual or Automatic Toothbrushes

• Brushing is imperative and soft or medium toothbrushes are appropriate
  
• Small heads are useful because they allow better access to the cylindrical contours of a dental implant Philadelphia.
  
• Automatic toothbrushes effectively disturb biofilm and are specifically useful for edentulous patients
  
• Specific techniques need to be learned because the anatomy of the implant is significantly different than the anatomy of a natural tooth.
  

Interdental Threaded Cleaners

• The use of super-floss or floss-threaders is important around any implant supported bridge, crown or bar.
  
• Patients need to be made aware that sometimes implants are placed more lingually, or closer to the tongue, than natural teeth. Because of this, it may be difficult for patients to reach the tongue-side surface of the dental implant. Difficult as it may be, cleaning the lingual surface of the dental implant is a critical step in avoiding bone loss around the implant.
  
• Patients with dental implants should be wrapping super-floss 360 degrees around the implant and polishing in both horizontal and vertical motions in order to keep all surfaces of the dental implant free from biofilm.
  

Interdental Brushes and Cleaners

• All wires of interdental brushes must be nylon-coated to prevent damage to the titanium implant surface.
  
• A back-and-forth motion should be used with an interdental brush to cover the entire surface of the dental implant and restoration.
  

Reduced Size Brushes

• Many manufacturers of oral hygiene instruments now design brushes specifically with the needs of the dental implant patient in mind covering a wide array of brush sizes and shapes.
  
• Careful instructions regarding angulation and orientation of the brushes are critical to provide optimal plaque removal and to prevent injury to the tissues.
  
• The angulation and orientation of the brushes should be adapted to contact as much of the surface area of the restorations as possible.

To learn more about the care and maintenance of dental implants, contact Philadlephia implant dentist, Dr. I. Stephen Brown at the Perio Group (215) 735-3660 or on the web at www.theperiogroup.com.