All-on-4 dental implants offer a permanent solution for missing teeth, but the work does not stop after surgery. Here is how to care for them properly.
If you’ve lost your natural teeth due to decay, gum disease, injury, etc, and removable dentures aren’t an option, you can go for all on 4 dental implants instead. These implants give you a permanent set of prosthetic teeth that look and function just like the real ones.
How Does This Dental Implant Procedure Work?
How this full-arch restoration procedure works is: your dental surgeon surgically inserts four titanium implants into your jawbone. These act as artificial roots.
Once the titanium screw is securely in place, they attach a full arch of prosthetic teeth. Over time, the dental implants fuse with your jawbone, creating a strong foundation that supports your new smile.
If it sounds like something you’d want, consider reaching out to dental clinics offering a permanent implant solution to begin the journey of transformation. Keep in mind, though, that getting such dental surgery solutions is only the beginning. Properly maintaining the implants is where the work is.
How to Maintain Your All On 4 Dental Implants
Here are tips to help you maintain the full set of teeth:
Daily Dental Hygiene Routine
Your dental implants are strong, but just like natural teeth, they do need care. Brush twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush or one made for implants. Soft is much better in this situation because hard bristles can scratch the surface of your prosthetic teeth and weaken them over time.
Make good use of interdental brushes or floss threaders, too. They slide right between your teeth and clean out food bits. If those feel a little too tough on you, a water flosser can help, as it uses water pressure to clean hard-to-reach spots.
Regular Dental Check-Ups
Taking care of your dental implants at home shouldn’t be a substitute for visits to the dentist. Professional check-ups every six months or as the doctor recommends can go a long way.
During the patient care visit, your dentist will check two main things. First, they’ll look at your gums. Healthy gums are supposed to be pink and firm. If they’re red, swollen, or bleeding, that’s very likely a sign of trouble. Second, they’ll focus on dental implant stability as well as wear and tear, if any.
You can also expect professional cleanings using special instruments that won’t damage your implants. That said, make sure you keep the recommended dates in mind and honor the appointments.
Dietary Considerations
Food plays a bigger role in your dental health, more so when you have implants in place. First off, avoid hard foods like nuts, popcorn kernels, or even ice cubes as they can put too much pressure on your prosthetic teeth. That pressure could damage them over time.
You should also avoid sticky or chewy foods like gummy candies or even dried fruits, as they can stick in the nooks and crannies of your dental implants. You’ll likely have a hard time cleaning them off, which can lead to plaque buildup.
In the place of these potentially destructive foods, try softer, nutrient-rich alternatives. Lean proteins like chicken or fish are great, and so are cooked vegetables and soft fruits like bananas or avocados. These give your body the vitamins and minerals it needs for stronger bone density and healthy gums.
Drink plenty of water throughout the day, too, as the fluids help wash away food particles and keep your mouth moist. Keep in mind that a dry mouth can actually increase your risk of cavities and gum issues, which can increase the odds of implant failure.
Avoid Harmful Habits
The first habit to get rid of is smoking, as it slows down healing and weakens your immune system. When this is your reality, odds are high you’ll suffer infections around the full mouth dental implants. Also, tobacco stains your prosthetic teeth over time.
If you have a habit of biting on hard things like your nails or chewing on pen caps, you’ll have to stop, as they put unnecessary stress on your implants. Over time, that stress can cause wear and tear and increase the odds of implant failure.
Grinding your teeth at night is another issue to watch out for. Some people grind unconsciously while they sleep. This can put immense pressure on your implants. If you suspect you grind, talk to your dentist about getting a nightguard.
Also, if you experience pain or discomfort around your implants, don’t ignore it. It might signal that the implant is loose or that you’re suffering from the inflammation of the surrounding tissue.
Closing Thoughts
The all-on-four treatment concept can give edentulous patients a beautiful smile and improve their dental health. However, as this guide has pointed out, it’s not just about getting the dental implants; it’s also about maintaining them.
Take these tips seriously in addition to what your dentist tells you. This can help your implants stay longer and your smile brighter, even as time goes by.
