Do Dental Implants Get Cavities?

August 1, 2022

Dental cavities are a chronic condition affecting nearly 70 percent of adults in the United States, followed by gum disease. People lose teeth because of these infections when they don't receive appropriate treatments for cavities or gum disease.

Suppose you are like many Americans with missing teeth, whether one or all, you can replace the teeth using single or full mouth dental implants to restore your mouth's functionality and smile. However, if you have lost your teeth due to untreated cavities, you might have questions about whether dental implants are also susceptible to developing cavities.

This article focuses on whether dental implants are also prone to tooth decay to convince you finding freedom from cavities is relatively easy if you can get dental implants to replace your missing teeth.

Can Dental Implants Get Cavities?

Dental implants cannot develop cavities because the titanium post is embedded deep into your jawbone to function as your artificial tooth root. The titanium post is made from a biocompatible metal, making it invincible against mouth bacteria. After recovering from the surgery, you receive an artificial dental crown made from porcelain or zirconia, also invulnerable to dental cavities. The material of dental implants blends seamlessly with your natural teeth and remains indistinguishable. In addition, they don't attract tooth decay from your mouth bacteria even when you leave food particles on them.

Why Is Oral Hygiene a Must for Dental Implant Patients?

When receiving dental implants, you might express joy at hearing you are no longer susceptible to tooth decay and find freedom from cavities and fillings. However, the dentist treating you might put a spanner in your happiness to warn you that excellent oral hygiene is essential even if you are no longer vulnerable to dental cavities.

The titanium post embedded in your jawbone and the artificial tooth mounted over the implant is invincible against cavities. Unfortunately, your mouth isn't, and if you don't maintain excellent dental hygiene, the plaque on your teeth hardens into tartar to make you prone to gum disease and compromise your dental and overall health. Therefore you must make every effort to ensure you keep this devastating condition at bay by brushing your teeth twice daily, flossing them at least once, and getting dental exams and cleanings every six months.

Gum disease doesn't merely affect your dental and overall health and compromises the stability of your dental implants, making them susceptible to falling off like your natural teeth. Therefore it is essential to maintain the highest level of oral hygiene to prevent gum infections from leaving you without teeth in your mouth.

How Do You Take Care of Dental Implants?

Caring for your dental implants isn't challenging and requires you to follow appropriate dental hygiene practices. However, it would help if you didn't assume your artificial teeth do not require any attention because they are invincible against tooth decay. On the contrary, it helps if you remember your mouth can develop other infections to compromise the health of your entire body and the artificial teeth you had placed at considerable expenditure and trouble.

Suppose you request your provider of dental implants for suggestions on caring for your artificial teeth. In that case, they will likely recommend you use a soft-bristled toothbrush or electric toothbrush to clean your teeth using circular motions for two minutes twice a day. The provider will emphasize flossing at least once regardless of the time and getting dental exams and cleanings without exceptions to eliminate plaque buildup on your natural and implanted teeth and below the gum line.

You must follow your dentist's instructions diligently to ensure you care for your oral health and your implanted teeth if you want to prevent undergoing a similar procedure again to get more replacements. If you overlook your dentist's advice, the chances of losing your implanted teeth increase faster than they should.

Dental implants remain in your mouth for a lifetime with proper care to restore your mouth functionality, smile, and speech. After investing considerably to replace your lost teeth, would you find it beneficial to indulge in habits that might make you susceptible to additional expenditure? We are confident you will make every effort to safeguard the implanted teeth and will adhere to your dentist's guidelines to the word.

The Art of Dental Wellness provides dental implants to suitable patients, warning them of the need to care for artificial teeth like their natural teeth. They inform patients that implants are not susceptible to cavities but also provide other information that patients must safeguard against. If you qualify for dental implants, please schedule an appointment with this practice to restore your mouth functionality with dental implants.