Are Dental Implants Impervious to Dental Diseases?

Dental implants serve as prosthetic tooth roots. Innovative  implants make your new replacement teeth (usually porcelain crowns) feel as sturdy and comfortable as natural teeth, Dental implants restore the root stimulation which helps keep your jawbone well-nourished. However, simply having implants posts surgically implanted into your jaw does not guarantee continued good health. Much like your natural teeth, dental prosthetics require continuous care and maintenance to ward off destructive dental diseases. Park Ridge dentists, Dr. Maria and Dr. Thanasi Loukas, are experts in dental implant restorations and would like to help implant patients avoid some of the most common dental health issues known to develop on implants.

Can Implants Decay?

Tooth decay begins with the softening, damage, and erosion of your protective tooth enamel. This results from acid produced by oral bacteria after they consume sugar and carbohydrates. Oral infections don’t initially affect your tooth’s roots unless extreme decay invades your dental pulp and reaches the nerves and blood vessels at its center. Since most replacement teeth are crafted from innovative dental porcelain, rather than human tooth structure, cavities are not a concern. Nevertheless, poor oral hygiene can lead to premature wear and damage to your new teeth, which can fall out just like natural teeth if you don’t take care of your mouth.

Periodontal Disease and Loose Teeth

Gum (periodontal) disease does not infect your tooth structure, but it remains the number one cause of adult tooth loss in America. Also a product of excessive oral bacteria, gum disease left untreated leads to the destruction of your gums and jawbone which are meant to support your teeth by their roots. Since gum disease destroys your smile’s foundation, dental implants can lose their support and fail if gum disease is allowed to progress. Brushing your teeth and flossing is just as important even after you have undergone replacement teeth such as implants.

Dental Implants from your Park Ridge Dentists

The beauty of dental implants is their close imitation to your real teeth, and caring for them is similar to caring for your natural smile. Be sure to brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day with a soft-bristled tooth brush, and attend a dental checkup and cleaning as often as Dr. Loukas recommends. To learn more about caring for your dental implants, seek the expertise of your Park Ridge implant dentists today. You can schedule an appointment by calling Loukas General Dentistry at (847) 696-1919. Located in the 60068 area, we proudly serve patients from Park Ridge and the surrounding Chicago communities.