Dental Implant Crown Home Care Instructions

How To Care For Your New Dental Implant Crown

The Dental Implant Crown is the prosthetic component of the Dental Implant. It sits on top of the dental implant and is made to look and feel like a natural tooth. It is the final step in dental implant treatment that involves taking a precise impression (digital or analog) of the implant platform and surrounding dental structures.  After receiving your dental implant crown, it is important to follow these home care instructions to ensure your dental implant lasts a long time.

If you have not had your dental implant surgery appointment yet, please read our pre-visit instructions. 

For instructions on how to care for your dental implant immediately after dental implant surgery, please read these post-operative instructions.

Oral Hygiene

• Brush At Least Twice A Day: Conventional wisdom says that you should brush at least twice a day; once in the morning and once before you go to bed. Two times a day is a good rule of thumb. But ideally, you should brush right after a meal. This is to maximize the amount of time your teeth stay clean between meals.
• When You Cannot Brush Your Teeth, Rinse With Water Or Mouthwash: It is sometimes not practical to be brushing after every meal. You may be busy at work or at school during your day and cannot find time to brush or floss. If this is the case, at least rinse with water or mouthwash to get as much food debris and taste out of your mouth. One brand of mouthwash that we highly recommend is the Crest Gum Care Mouthwash Oral Rinse.
• Consider Upgrading Your Toothbrush: Ensure you are using a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean the area around your Dental Implant Crown, as they are gentler on the Dental Implant Crown and less likely to cause damage or irritation to the gum tissue around it. One brand of toothbrush that we highly recommend is the Curaprox CS5460 Ultra Soft Swiss Toothbrush. Also consider upgrading to an electric toothbrush, which can be more effective at removing plaque and bacteria from the Dental Implant Crown and surrounding teeth. One brand of electric toothbrush that we highly recommend is the Philips Sonicare Protectiveclean 6100.
• Floss Daily: Flossing is critical to remove plaque and food particles that may accumulate around the Dental Implant Crown. Ideally you should be flossing every time you brush, but once a day is the bare minimum. We recommend GUM ButlerWeave Dental Floss. If you have difficulty using regular string floss, consider using dental flossers (such as Sunstar 888JC GUM Advanced Care Flossers) or interdental brushes (GUM Proxabrush) to clean the space between the Dental Implant Crown and the adjacent teeth.
• Buy A Water Flosser: We highly recommend you purchase a Water Flosser and to use it daily in addition to regular flossing; the Water Flosser will flush out debris missed by floss and toothbrush. Ideally you should be water flossing every time you brush, but once a day is the bare minimum. One brand that we highly recommend is the Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser.
• Use A Gum Care Antibacterial Mouthwash Daily: Rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash specially formulated for gum care daily to help reduce the risk of peri-implantitis infection and to freshen your breath. Ideally you should be rinsing with mouthwash every time you brush, but once a day is the bare minimum. One brand that we highly recommend is Crest Gum Care Mouthwash Oral Rinse.
• Use A Gum Care Toothpaste: Be sure to use a toothpaste that has a unique formula that penetrates deep into the gums, providing a deep clean that helps to neutralize harmful bacteria and promote gum health. One brand that we highly recommend is the Crest Pro Health Gum Detoxify Deep Clean Toothpaste.
• Attend Regular Check-Ups And Cleanings: Schedule regular check-ups and teeth cleanings with your dentist to monitor the health of your Dental Implant Crown and to ensure that it is functioning correctly. Your dentist will examine the Dental Implant Crown and take digital x-rays images to check for any potential problems, as well as clean the area and surrounding teeth to remove any plaque or tartar buildup.

Food

You can eat and drink any type of food like normal with your permanent dental implant crowns. 

Common Problems with Dental Implant Crowns

With good oral hygiene and regular maintenance visits to your dentist, dental implant crowns are a permanent tooth replacement option that can last you a lifetime. However, there are times when dental implant crowns can experience problems. Most of the time, it is preventable and can be easily fixed. The most common issues that dental implant patients experience include:

• Prosthetic screw loosening: The dental implant crown and abutment  is fixed to the dental implant with a prosthetic screw. If this screw becomes loose, the implant may wobble. Your dentist can fix this problem by tightening the prosthetic screw.
• Unbonding of the dental implant crown: The porcelain crown is fixed to the abutment with a special glue. Over time, the glue can degrade and the porcelain crown may fall off the implant abutment. Your dentist can fix this problem by recementing the implant crown onto the abutment.
• Peri-implantitis: Peri-implantitis is bacterial infection of the dental implant often caused by poor oral hygiene. This is a serious problem with may require periodontal surgery or in worst case scenarios the removal and replacement of the dental implant.
• Chipping of the porcelain: If the porcelain of the dental implant crown chips or fractures, your dentist can smooth the rough edges if it does not post an aesthetic concern, or replace the entire dental implant crown.

If you are experiencing any of the above problems, contact us for advice on how to fix your dental implant crown.

Visit Your Dentist For Regular Checkups And Cleanings

In addition to daily brushing, flossing and water-flossing at home, it is important to regularly visit your dentist. We recommend that you see your dentist at least once a year for a check-up and at least every 4 months for a dental cleaning. Your dentist will assess the health of your dental implant for any signs of screw loosening or peri-implantitis so that it can be treated early.

Have Questions?

If you have any additional questions or concerns about your tooth crowns, please contact us.