Can Cavities Infect Dental Implants?

Cavities are small holes that develop in your tooth when it’s infected with decay. As a progressive infection, tooth decay continues to grow worse until treated, causing increasingly worse discomfort as it eats away at your tooth. In extreme cases, cavities can lead to tooth loss or the need for an extraction. The beauty of dental implants is that they provide a more lifelike restoration than other tooth replacement procedures. Thankfully, however, their resemblance to your teeth doesn’t include a vulnerability to cavities since implants and their restorations are crafted from manmade dental materials. Nevertheless, your Park Ridge dentists, Drs. Maria and Thanasi Loukas, warn that just because your implants are cavity-resistant doesn’t mean that your replacement teeth can do without regular care and maintenance.

Dental Implant Specifics

Dental implants are small root devices that are surgically inserted into your jawbone to replace one or more lost teeth. As your jawbone heals, it fuses to the biocompatible titanium implants, holding them in place in the same manner as it holds your healthy teeth roots. Once they’re securely in place, dental implants can support an appropriate restoration (i.e., dental crown, bridge, or denture), depending on the severity of your tooth loss. The restoration is typically made from lifelike dental porcelain, which is designed to mimic your tooth’s size, shape, and color, and the shine created by the enamel surrounding it.

Implants and Dental Health

Neither the titanium of your dental implant or the porcelain of your implant restoration is subject to the bacterial infection (tooth decay) that causes cavities. The teeth, gums, and jawbone that surround your dental implants, though, must remain healthy and disease-free to support your prosthetic teeth. Luckily, caring for your dental implants is similar to caring for your natural smile; brush and floss carefully at least twice a day, and attend every routine checkup and cleaning that Dr. Loukas recommends. With good hygiene and proper professional attention, your dental implants can last a lifetime (though your restoration may need replacement after years of wear and tear).

About Dr. Maria and Dr. Thanasi Loukas:

Whether you wish to protect your smile from dental disease and damage, or restore your smile after suffering tooth loss, we can help you regain your oral health and confidence through a new and improved smile. Dr. Maria and Dr. Thanasi Loukas are highly-skilled restorative and cosmetic dentists serving the Park Ridge and surrounding Chicago communities. To schedule an appointment, call Loukas General Dentistry today at (847) 696-1919.