The negative impact gum disease can have on your dental implant fitting

As many people are aware, oral implants are used to fill gaps in the mouth that have been left by a lost tooth or teeth.

Attached to the jawbone through the gum, tooth implants are required to fuse fully with your jaw in order for the prosthetics (a false tooth or set of teeth) to be successfully attached. Sounds fairly simple, doesn’t it?

But there are many conditions that occur in the mouth which can impact negatively on your oral implants and can even lead to them falling out. While your dentist will check for these at the time of your oral implant fitting, should they develop once your implant has fused, they can still cause issues.

At High Dental Implants, when our team assesses you for having a dental implant Melbourne fitted, we will check first and foremost that your dental health is in good condition. If we have any concerns, we will begin treating the issues before we fit the implants, to promote a better bonding and longer life of this restorative procedure. We will also offer you tips on how to maintain your oral health once your implants are fitted. This will ensure the best chances of their longevity.

In this article, we will examine how one of the most common oral conditions, periodontal disease can impact on your newly fitted dental implant Melbourne.

What is gum disease?

In simple terms, gum disease, periodontal disease or gingivitis is a bacterial infection which causes inflammation of the gums.

Common in the general population, gum disease is usually caused by poor oral hygiene; bacteria is not adequately removed from the gums which allows it to accumulate and cause an inflammatory response.

Issues it can cause with implants

While it may not sound as important as other factors, such as having a strong and adequate amount of jawbone, gum disease can have an enormous impact on the successful fitting of your dental implant Melbourne.

Once your gum is inflamed due to gum disease, it is no longer a stable base for an implant to be fitted, so our team will prioritise treating the swelling first. Should you develop gum disease post-implant fitting, the inflammation can lead to the implant becoming loose and even falling out altogether.

Periodontal treatment

Luckily, the treatment for gum disease is fairly simple and our team at High Dental Implants treat this issue daily.

We will invite you to attend a session with our hygienist, who will remove any plaque and bacteria that is hidden underneath your gum line, to help reduce the inflammatory response. Afterwards, we may prescribe a prescription mouthwash and toothpaste, to help you reduce any associated inflammation, while also eliminating bacteria. We can show you how to clean your teeth and gums correctly and will be able to offer you advice about diet.

If you have a history of gum disease in your family, our team will discuss with you a more suitable alternative to oral implants that will not respond to any recurring inflammation.

DISCLAIMER

All treatment carries risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.