Cleaning Implant Supported Dentures
Effectively cleaning your oral cavity is an important part of maintaining the health of the teeth, gums, and bone, and this is true whether a person’s teeth are natural or artificial. While implant supported dentures are cleaned differently depending on the type of denture, no matter what kind of denture you have, you need to make sure the areas around denture attachments are clean and free of debris as you brush your gums, soft tissues, and any remaining natural teeth. Some implant supported dentures are removable, snapping in and out of the mouth, while others are permanently affixed to the dental implants. The aforementioned snap-on dentures should be removed for cleaning, both to clean the denture and to clean the attachment areas and the rest of the oral cavity, and patients with snap-on dentures are advised to sleep with their denture out of their mouth and soaking in liquid to prevent it from drying out prematurely. Patients with permanent implant supported dentures will clean their dentures as they’d clean their natural teeth, again addressing any attachment areas where bacteria might accumulate, and, no matter what type of implant supported denture one chooses, good oral hygiene that includes regular dental checkups and professional cleanings is an essential element of the success of the dental restoration.
Most dentists recommend patients visit for checkups and cleanings every six months or every year, but your dentist will make recommendations tailored to your specific needs. During these periodic dentist visits, your dentist might take x-rays so they can check the position of the implants and their components and make sure everything’s still in order. Some implant components, like attachments and clips, are expected to wear out and usually need to be replaced every couple of years, and these x-rays can help assess the wear of attachments early on and replace them before they wear completely. Your dentist and dental hygienist will also make sure your oral cavity is clean and free of dental calculus, which is hardened bacterial plaque that can build up on denture attachments, using special tools to clean your implant apparatus without damaging the material’s surface. If you have a snap-on denture, your dentist will clean the denture as well. If you have a permanent implant supported denture, your dentist will remove the denture and clean the attachment fixtures and the oral tissues, removing bacteria that can build up over time, also cleaning the denture. Your dentist and dental hygienist may also recommend specific cleaning techniques or changes to existing habits once they’ve evaluated the condition of your dental implants and your oral cavity, and they will continue to work with you as you develop and practice these habits.
Implant supported dentures provide more stability and comfort than traditional dentures, and, with the proper care and cleaning, your implant supported dentures can be expected to last for many years. Their stability allows wearers to speak clearly, smile freely, and enjoy a variety of different foods. Certain hard or sticky foods might damage dentures, but many people with implant supported dentures find that they can easily enjoy crunchy fruits and vegetables and comfortably chew their favorite dishes, helping restore quality of life and boosting overall health. Of course, effectively cleaning and caring for implant supported dentures contributes immensely to their longevity, so be sure to play your part in maintaining them properly.