
Dental implants can do more than replace individual teeth — a few well-placed implants can support other restorations like a fixed bridge. The natural integration that occurs between the bone and the implant's titanium post creates a strong, durable hold for both implant and the supported restoration.
But if a bone-implant connection weakens, the implant could be in danger of failing. This can occur because of periodontal (gum) disease caused by dental plaque, a thin film of built-up food particles and bacteria on the teeth. Untreated, the infection can ultimately spread from the gums to the bone and cause it to diminish in volume. If the bone loss occurs around an implant the threaded surface of the post may be exposed, inviting more plaque buildup. This can trigger more bone loss and eventually implant failure.
That's why you must brush and floss daily to remove plaque on and around your fixed bridge just as you do your natural teeth. Brushing around a bridge could be difficult with a traditional brush, so you may want to use an interproximal brush designed for just such situations. Be sure any utensil you use contains only plastic parts — metal creates microscopic scratches in the restoration materials that could harbor plaque.
You should also floss between the bridge and gums as well as between any natural teeth. While this can be difficult with traditional flossing methods, there are some tools to make it easier.
One is a floss threader, a small tool with a loop on one end and a stiff plastic edge on the other. With floss threaded through the loop, you gently guide the edged end between the bridge and gums. Once it passes through, you wrap the two ends of the floss with your fingers as you would normally and work it along each side of the nearest implants.
You can also use pre-cut floss sections with stiffened ends to pass through the gap, or an oral irrigator that loosens and flushes away plaque with a pressurized water stream. Just be sure you flush debris away from the gum and not toward it.
Keeping all surfaces of your implant-supported bridgework clean of plaque is necessary for its longevity. Be sure you also visit your dentist regularly for more thorough cleanings.
If you would like more information on oral hygiene with dental implants, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation.
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- 2019
- January (6)
- Crazy Little Thing Called... Hyperdontia?
- Transform Your Smile with Porcelain Veneers
- Treating a Young, Permanent Tooth Requires a Different Approach
- Dental Implants Better than Ever thanks to Ongoing Tech Advances
- NBC Star Delivers a Message about the "Perfect" Smile
- Be Alert to the Unintended Consequences of Cancer Treatment to Oral Health
- 2018
- November (6)
- 2.6 Million Fans 'Like' Justin Bieber's Chipped Tooth
- Practice Caution with Energy or Sports Drinks to Protect Your Enamel
- This November, Become a Non-Smoker
- Take a Look into Your Future with a Trial Smile
- Dental Injury Is Just a Temporary Setback for Basketball Star Kevin Love
- Moderate Your Child's Juice Drinking to Lower Tooth Decay Risk
- October (6)
- Even with Mercury, Dental Amalgam is a Safe Choice for Tooth Filling
- Guide Your Older Children or Teens through These 3 Oral Health Areas
- Sofia Vergara: 'Obsessed' With Oral Hygiene
- Follow These Common Sense Steps When Your Child has a Toothache
- Keep on Course during the 3 Phases of a Smile Makeover
- Do you need Simple Tooth Removal or Surgery? It Depends on a few Factors
- September (6)
- Steely Dan Founder's Death Highlights Importance of Early Cancer Detection
- Fixed or Removable: Deciding Which Implant-Supported Bridge is Best for You
- Chewing Tobacco is Just as Addictive and Dangerous as Smoking
- Veneers may Offer a Less Invasive Way to Transform Your Smile
- Fan of Superhero Film Black Panther Breaks Steel Wire...with Her Mouth!
- It's National Gum Care Month - Take Care of Your Gums
- August (6)
- Answers to Common Questions About Root Canal Treatments
- Advances in Dental Health that may be Waiting for us Just around the Corner
- Margot Robbie Knows: A Great Smile Is Worth Protecting
- Sleep Apnea Might be Robbing you of More than a Good Night's Sleep
- Don't Fear the Root Canal - it Could Save Your Tooth
- 'Simple' Tooth Extractions are a Common Dental Procedure
- July (7)
- A Different Kind of "Chip Shot" for Pro Golfer Danielle Kang
- Ready for Summer Camp? Be Sure to Pack a Toothbrush
- What Happens in a Root Canal Treatment and How it Can Save Your Tooth
- Take Steps to Treat Chronic Mouth Breathing as Early as Possible
- Julianne Hough Shares a Video - and a Song - After Wisdom Teeth Come Out
- Get Your Vitamins the Natural Way for Optimum Dental Health
- Replacing a Back Tooth May Help You Avoid Future Dental Problems
- June (6)
- Don't Forget Hidden Fluoride Sources Your Family Could be Ingesting
- Charlize Theron Back in Action After Dental Surgery
- Tips to Brighten Your Summer Smile
- Lasers Beginning to Change Some Root Canal Procedures
- Get a Look at Your Future Makeover Look Now with a 'Trial Smile'
- How Kathy Bates Retains Her Movie-Star Smile
- March (5)
- Instill Good Dental Habits in Your Child as Early as Possible
- In Today's NFL, Oral Hygiene Takes Center Stage
- Lasers Adding New Precision and Efficiency to Root Canal Treatments
- A Root Canal Treatment may be Your Best Chance to Save a Tooth
- Not Enough Bone Support for an Implant? Here's a Way to Rebuild It
- 2017
- May (5)
- Clean Your Implants Just Like you Clean Your Natural Teeth
- Tooth-Colored Fillings Provide a Viable Alternative to Dental Amalgam
- No- or Minimal-Prep Veneers Reduce Permanent Alterations to Your Teeth
- Life Is Sometimes a Grind for Brooke Shields
- Only a Dental Exam can Identify the Root Cause of Your Tooth Pain
- April (5)
- The Top 3 Oral Problems in America - and What You Should Do About Them
- See Your new Look Before Dental Work with a 'Trial Smile'
- Fifth Harmony's Camila Cabello Chips a Tooth, but Concert Still "Worth It"
- Keep the Space between an Implant-Supported Bridge and the Gums Clean
- Don't Let Smoking Increase Your Chances of Implant Failure
- February (5)
- Try Conservative Measures to Treating TMD Before More Aggressive Options
- New Crowns Give Both Durability and Beauty to Problem Teeth
- Actress Emma Stone Reveals How Thumb Sucking Affected Her Teeth
- A Root Canal Can Stop Tooth Decay and Save Your Tooth
- Get an Early Start Treating Root Resorption Before it's Too Late
- 2016
- June (5)
- Getting the Full Picture of Your Decay Risk Leads to Better Prevention Strategies
- Consider a Removable Partial Denture as a Temporary Solution After Tooth Loss
- Not all Crowns are Alike - or Cost the Same
- Dr. Travis Stork: If Only I'd Worn A Mouthguard!
- Create a Strategy to Deal with Dental Problems to Avoid Future Expenses
- March (5)
- Though not Always Seen, it's Still Important to Replace a Missing Back Tooth
- Keep an Eye on your Gums to Catch Disease Early
- Jimmy Fallon Can’t Catch a Break - Except in His Tooth
- Treating Small Enamel Cracks Could Help you Avoid a Dangerous Tooth Fracture
- Although a Global Problem, Tooth Decay can be Prevented
- 2015
- December (5)
- Gaining a New Attractive Smile is More than Achievable
- Master Illusionist Benefits from the Magic of Orthodontics
- Daily Hygiene Tasks Performed Properly Help Ensure Good Oral Health
- Regenerating Lost Bone Can Make Dental Implants a Reality
- Some Patients Might Need Antibiotics Before Routine Dental Work
- October (7)
- Tom Hanks' Abscessed Tooth Gets Cast Away
- 12 Reasons Why Sweet Potato Is So Good For You
- Removing Wisdom Teeth now may Prevent Dental Problems Later
- Don't Panic! Take Methodical Approach to Help Your Child Stop Thumb Sucking
- NO INSURANCE...NO WORRIES!
- Limit Acidic Beverages to Protect Your Child's Tooth Enamel from Erosion
- New Front Teeth for a Teenaged David Duchovny
- 2014
- August (6)
- How Dentistry Saved Kathy Ireland's Smile
- Bad Breath Might be a Sign of a More Serious Oral Condition
- 7 Habits to Avoid While Brushing Your Teeth
- Dental Hygienist - Your Partner in Preventing Disease and Maintaining Oral Health
- Are Cavities Contagious?
- Fitness Expert Jillian Michaels Helps Kick Sleep Apnea
- 2013
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- December (5)
- Stopping Addiction to Sugar: Willpower or Genetics? - tips from Berger Dental Bites
- SMILE FOR YOUR HEALTH - tips from Berger Dental Bites
- HEALTHY GUMS COULD PREVENT A HEART ATTACK - tips from Berger Dental Bites
- DENTAL INSURANCE - tips from Berger Dental Bites
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