The Silberg Center for Dental Science in Pittsburgh, PA believes dental implants are one of the most important and life-changing periodontal advances of recent dental history. Dental implants have changed lives by providing confidence and health, beautiful smiles and countless compliments to patients all around the country. But getting dental implants doesn’t mean all your oral problems are solved or that oral hygiene can be relaxed. They need to be cared for, just as natural teeth should be cared for, brushed and flossed regularly, and monitored for peri-implant disease.
What is Peri-implant disease?
Let’s look at gum disease first. It happens when bacteria lodges itself around the gum lines of your teeth and stays there for a while (or isn’t cleaned properly). This can happen whether you have your natural teeth or dental implants. After all, the implants are meant to act just like your natural teeth. But when it happens around your implants, peri-implant disease can develop. This means that proper brushing and flossing, as well as regular dental checkups, are vital to the success of your implants.
Like gum disease around natural teeth, bacteria can be stuck around the base of the implant. Peri-implant disease manifests with swollen or red gums, tenderness, or bleeding gums, and is more likely with poor oral hygiene, smoking, and diabetes. The early stage of peri-implant disease is peri-implant mucositis, which is found only in the soft tissues around the implants. This can be successfully treated and is reversible. If not caught early, peri-implant disease can cause some real problems down the road, reversing all the hard work your periodontist did to get those pearly whites so pearly.
If peri-implant mucositis is left untreated, the next stage is peri-implantitis, which includes deterioration of the bone around the implant. With this stage of peri-implant disease, the implants and their supporting prostheses can disintegrate, leaving your mouth needing surgical treatment and in-depth monitoring and care.
At The Silberg Center for Dental Science, we want your dental implants experience to go as smoothly as possible, before, during, and after you visit our office. Your comfort and satisfaction are our focus, and we look forward to helping you with all your dental implant needs in Pittsburgh, PA. Schedule an appointment with our office and we can help answer any questions or concerns you have and we’ll do our best to help you.
