Implant Supported Dentures

If you have opted to get Implant – Supported Dentures – Congratulations!

Soon, you will wonder how you ever lived without them! With proper care, your implant-supported dentures should provide many years of reliable performance. They are stronger and much more stable than regular dentures, so you will not have to worry about speech, and you will likely be able to eat many of your favorite foods again. In fact, in some cases, patients have to adjust to a higher bite force capability and initially they may experience an increased risk of denture fracture or tooth displacement. This is part of the process, and we will be here to help you with these adjustments.

Check-up appointments: Why do you need them?

These appointments are very important so that your Denturist can see that:

• Your dentures are fitting properly.
• Your gums and bone remain healthy.
• You are keeping your implants and dentures clean.

The long-term success of your Implants and Dentures requires:

• A lifetime commitment to maintenance.
• Careful daily oral hygiene.
• Checking and/ or replacing your retention components approximately every 6 months
• Seeing your Denturist at the first sign of discomfort.
• Relining your implant supported denture regularly (an intimate fit of the denture acrylic to the soft tissue will minimize stress on the implants). Patients often don’t know if their denture needs a reline, since the implant attachments stabilize the denture. We recommend checking once a year for the need to reline the denture.

CARE

Brushing

• You should try to clean your implants after every meal, or at least once in the morning and once at night.
• The longer food debris collects on your implants, the harder it will be to clean.
• Small, soft toothbrushes are recommended since they will be gentler on your gums and won’t scratch the implants.
• Interdental brushes, child-sized or end-tufted toothbrushes are also useful. Ask your denturist which brushes are best for you.
• Hold the brush at an angle, making small back and forth motions.
• Be sure to clean all surfaces of the implant (inside, outside, left and right side), the ball attachment, and the tissues around the implant.
• A powered toothbrush can be helpful if manual brushing is difficult.
• Although there are many types of powered toothbrushes available, battery-powered ones are less expensive and will do the job just fine!
• Take your time. Hold it in one place for a few seconds before moving it to another.
• Toothpaste is not necessary since it may scratch the implants.
• Don’t forget to brush your tongue, the rest of your gums and the roof of your mouth – this will help to keep your breath fresh.

Mouth rinses

• Mouth rinses (e.g. Listerine, Oral-B, Rembrandt, Crest Pro-Health Rinse, BetaCell) can be used twice daily.
• The rinse is in addition to brushing and flossing, not a replacement. It helps to freshen your breath and remove food and germs in areas that cannot be reached with a toothbrush or floss.

Soaking your Dentures

• Not only is it important to care for you gums, it is equally important for you to clean your dentures.
• Regularly check the inside and outside of your denture to be sure that it is clean.
• If it is not clean, use a soft denture brush to gently scrub off the debris.
• Brush your dentures over a sink or a bowl filled with luke-warm water. This will prevent the denture from breaking if it falls.
• Daily soaking with denture cleansing tablets eliminates odours and cleans the denture.
• Remove your dentures every night to let your gums rest. If you must wear them to bed, take them out during the day for as many hours as possible.

NOTE: If food or germs accumulate around your implants and dentures:

• Your gums will get red, swollen, or tender. This may cause you to lose bone around your implants and, over time, loosen one or both of your implants.
• Food debris will also cause bad breath.