People can lose teeth for a wide variety of reasons. Accidents are a common one, but many kinds of tooth loss aren’t really quite that sudden. People sometimes lose a tooth after years of untreated decay leading to a severe infection.
Patients like this often turn to dental implants, but wonder whether their new tooth could succumb to the same fate as their old one. If you really want to know, here are a few things to consider when it comes to dental implants and tooth decay.
Could My Dental Implant Get a Cavity?
Our natural teeth are miracles of nature—they’re made of the hardest materials in our body and are capable of standing up to all kinds of stress. However, the enamel that covers our teeth is susceptible to acid erosion. This becomes a problem when acid-secreting bacteria begin to colonize our mouths, which is the primary cause of tooth decay.
Dental implants have the benefit of being made of much more sophisticated materials. The crown of an implant is typically constructed of porcelain, which isn’t quite as hard as enamel but is considerably better at standing up to acid erosion. As a result, you shouldn’t have to worry about developing a cavity on your dental implant.
Bacteria, Infection, And Your Dental Implant
While it’s true that dental implants don’t typically develop cavities, it’s also the case that they’re just as vulnerable to bacterial infection as any other part of your smile. When bacteria surround the implant and creep under the gumline, it leads to a condition known as peri-implantitis.
In this scenario, the bacteria can begin to attack the bone tissue holding the dental implant in place, eroding it over time. Not only is this deeply painful, but it also puts the stability of your dental implant at risk.
For that reason, it’s as important as ever to keep your dental implant free of bacteria. You should make an effort to keep up with your daily hygiene—brush, floss, and use antibacterial mouthwash to break up plaque deposits.
You should also make it a point to see your dentist twice a year for biannual checkups and cleanings. This will afford your dentist the opportunity to check up on your smile and to clean plaque buildup off of places you can’t ordinarily reach.
About Our Practice
At Kingwood Family Dentistry, we know that finding the right dentist for your needs is important. It’s the difference between having a smile you hide when you talk and one that you’ll be proud to show off to others. That’s why everyone on our team not only works hard to maintain our clinical expertise but also works to make the process of perfecting your smile as easy and pain-free as possible.
If you have any questions about dental implants, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (281) 359-6672.