Can you get a deep cleaning with dental implants?

About Dental Implants

Even though dental implants are a lot like natural teeth, there are some differences. They don’t have the same root system as natural teeth. That means your implants don’t have periodontal pockets.

Periodontal pockets are areas between the gum and tooth where plaque and tartar accumulate. This area will eventually separate the gums from natural teeth. This won’t happen with implants since there are no pockets.

The hygienist won’t need to use the gum probe to check for pockets so that is a plus. They can spend more time looking around your natural teeth.

That doesn’t mean there want be any deep cleaning around implants. Deep cleaning will get into areas that aren’t completely cleaned with an at-home oral hygiene routine. This is important because dental implants are permanent and aren’t removed for cleaning like other types of restorations or dentures.

What to Expect from a Deep Cleaning With Implants

The number of dental implants you have may change how your hygienist does the deep cleaning but much of it is the same as it would be with all natural teeth.

The hygienist or dentist will inject a local anesthetic to numb the area getting the deep cleaning. Your implant may not have feeling but the gums surrounding it will so numbing is important to reducing discomfort.

The hygienist will start with the traditional cleaning procedure called scaling. That is where they use tools to scrape plaque and tartar off the surface area of your teeth. This will include the implant as debris can collect on it as it does your natural teeth.

Then, the hygienist will move to the root planing. This is where they go beneath the gumline to clean out the plaque and tartar from the pockets created between the gums and teeth. They will not need to do this at the implant site but will still need to do with all your natural teeth to ensure the gums and teeth stay healthy.

You will feel some discomfort as the local anesthetic wears off. Your gums and other teeth may be irritated and feel sensitive for a few days but your implants will have no discomfort at all.

Maintaining Your Implants

Dental implants doesn’t allow for a lack of oral hygiene or forsaking dental checkups. It is important to maintain standard oral care like brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and keeping up with dental exams at least twice a year.

It’s vital to keep up with oral hygiene to keep the gums and areas surrounding the implant healthy.

Keeping up with maintaining a dental implant has a few changes compared to natural teeth. You still need to use a soft-bristled brush whether you prefer a manual or electric toothbrush. You will still need to brush twice a day and it’s recommended by dentists to brush upon waking rather than wait until after breakfast. Brushing immediately removes overnight bacteria that will feed on your breakfast. It reduces the possibility of plaque buildup.

Even though you can avoid the string floss, crown and bridge floss is a great help with implants. It can get around implants well and will scrub away plaque with its two nylon ends and a fuzzy section. It is gentle so it won’t hurt the implant’s porcelain surface. Use this after brushing to distribute the fluoride from the toothpaste between teeth.

It is also recommended you use a low-abrasive toothpaste with implants. That means avoiding products that contain baking soda or stain removers. Those can remove the glaze from porcelain implants. There are products made specifically for dental implants so look for those.

Be sure to brush around and under the implant crown because that is where bacteria and plague may accumulate, increasing the peri-implantitis risk. An angle-necked toothbrush, an interdental toothbrush, or any brush with a slim head will work.

Cleaning All-on-4 Implants

Those with All-on-4 implants still will need to get deep dental cleanings regularly. While there are no root systems as with natural teeth, consistent professional deep cleanings help your gum health and keep the implants healthy too. They will last longer if you get the deep cleanings and you want them to last a lifetime!

Those with these implants need to manage a few extra steps at home to keep your mouth, teeth, and gums healthy. You will need to ensure that food debris is removed as it tends to get stuck between the gum line and bridge.

Those with All-on-4 implants should invest in a sulcus brush. This is a toothbrush that is much slimmer that a traditional toothbrush. It is around one-third of the width and that makes it easy to clean the area where the bridge transitions to soft tissue.