Dental implant success is a team effort. Of course your implant dentist plays an important role. And the dental implant itself has its part to play. But you also have a part to play in ensuring dental implant success. Here’s how you can give yourself the best chance of dental implant success.
Before Your Dental Implant Procedure
Your dental implant success or failure begins long before your surgery, during the planning stage. This is when you need to commit to quitting smoking. If not permanently, at least for the recommended time before and after your surgery.
You should let your implant dentist know if you have any systemic conditions that may threaten your implant. Let us know whether you’ve been tested for diabetes, for example. We will evaluate you for gum disease and bite problems, but if you know of anything worth mentioning, please speak up.
You also should let us know what medications you’re taking, including over-the-counter medications or natural medicines. Some of these, like bisphosphonates and antidepressants, may affect bone healing and dental implant success.
Also let us know if you’re undergoing treatment for an illness or if you’re going to start treatment in the near future. Radiation therapy, for example, can lead to dental implant failure, so implants shouldn’t be placed if you’re expecting treatment.
After Your Dental Implant Procedure
Once your dental implant is placed, you take over primary responsibility for its success. Follow all our instructions closely to make sure you promote proper healing of the implant. Continue on with good oral hygiene and additional care as necessary. Try to get control of bad habits that can damage your dental implant. This means not just smoking, but chewing on non-foods, such as ice, pens, and fingernails, can damage your dental implant. If you participate in sports, make sure you wear a mouthguard.
Most of all, make sure you come back for follow-up visits according to our guidelines. We can’t fix any problems we don’t know about. Or identify early signs of trouble if you don’t come in often enough.
As a Team We Can Succeed
Dental implant success is most likely when everyone on the team is committed to our goals. We are committed to ensuring your dental implant succeeds, and we’ll be happy to work with you if you are, too.
To talk to about dental implants in Sydney, please call (02) 9686 7375 for an appointment at My HIlls Dentist.
