No More Natural Teeth: Deciding Between Implants and Dentures

Do All-4-One Dental Implants Require Special Care?

by Jeremiah Barnett

Having All-4-One dental implants (a special type of dentures) installed is an excellent way to replace multiple missing teeth at the same time. Not only are patients typically able to begin using the implants immediately, but people with low bone support can still get them. However, unlike single dental implants, All-4-Ones do require a little bit of special care to keep your mouth healthy. Here's what you need to know.

Take Extra Care Removing Food Debris

When placing an All-4-One dental implant, the cosmetic dentist will take care to make sure there are no gaps between the denture and the gum line to prevent food debris from getting trapped under the device, among other reasons. Unfortunately, changes in the mouth over time can result in the very gaps forming the dentist was trying to avoid.

As you can imagine, food debris can get stuck in those spaces, creating havens for bacteria. Since All-4-One dental implants are permanent fixtures in the mouth, you cannot remove it and clean it like regular dentures. Thus, you'll have to make a special effort to keep those gaps clean.

The best way to do this is to use a Waterpik twice per day. In addition to being more effective at removing food debris and plaque than regular floss, a water flosser is gentler on oral tissues, which can prevent inflammation and other problems. If you can't or don't want to use a Waterpik, interdental flossers can also do the trick. However, it's best to consult with your dentist for recommendations on the best product to use.

Increase Blood Circulation to the Gums

Another thing you'll want to do is promote good blood flow to the gums on a regular basis. Teeth do more than chew food. They help maintain bone density in the jaw and stimulate blood circulation. When natural teeth are removed, most of this function is lost, which is why it's common for people to suffer bone and gum tissue loss in areas where they have no teeth.

While dentures are great for restoring a person's chewing function, they can't completely perform all the duties of regular teeth. Thus, one way to keep your mouth healthy after getting All-4-One dental implants is to increase blood circulation. There are several ways to do this.

Brushing the gums when you clean your teeth is a good one, though you'll want to use a toothbrush with a small head so that you can better access hard to reach spaces, such as the back of the mouth. Daily gum massages with your fingers can also work as well as rinsing your mouth with a mixture of warm water and salt.

Taking care of your mouth after getting implant-supported dentures is paramount to maintaining oral health. For more information on All-on-4 dental implant services, contact a cosmetic dentist.

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