Maintaining Your Dental Restoration

If you’ve found yourself visiting the dentist for restorative treatment, you may have just received a new crown, implant, or a complete set of full dentures. Congratulations! You’ve made essential steps in reclaiming your oral health and having a new smile. Your new smile probably looks just as great as it feels. As dentists, our patients’ goals are to give them the best oral care possible, and that includes taking the considerations and health goals of our patients and giving them fresh, renewed teeth that will last years to come.

Restorations are an aspect of yourself to be proud of, but restorations require the same amount of care as natural teeth, and a bit more precaution to last long and give you a healthy, happy smile. This aftercare is the challenge of restorations – taking steps to keep your mouth healthy through proper dental hygiene is the key to successful treatment. Those wondering what they need to do to retain their smile are some tips to go by while living with your new smile.

• Use the Right Tools for Cleaning Your Teeth – We all know that brushing and flossing are essential in keeping your teeth clean and healthy. It’s a good habit to get into, and it makes up a significant portion of your oral health. However, restorations require even more care into the products you choose. During the first year, restorations are highly susceptible to plaque buildup and decay, which can cause the supporting structures of your mouth, your teeth, and gums to have infections and risk losing the restoration completely. If you have a restoration that’s a permanent fixture in your mouth, such as a crown or implant, make sure to use neutral-fluoride toothpaste and dental floss to protect your teeth and gums from infection and discoloration.
• Visit The Dentist More Often – The minimum requirement for a dentist’s visit is once every six months. Still, after your restoration procedure, your dentist will most likely schedule a follow-up appointment. Visit your dentist – dentists have the power to prevent infections and decay and can perform proper checkups and cleanings for your teeth to keep them in tip-top shape.
• Limit Your Alcohol Consumption – If you love your drinks, we suggest limiting them while you have your restorations. Alcohol contains pH levels that interfere with the restorations’ bonding strength and can wear down the bonding material over time. Alcohol can wear down the enamel, dentin, and restoration completely through constant exposure, so making alcohol a special occasion will serve you best in maintaining your restorations.
• Use Night Guards and Mouth Guards – Nightguards and mouth guards can protect your restorations from wearing down and injury over time. For those who suffer from bruxism, a condition that causes the teeth to grind during sleep, night guards can prevent damage to the restorations and jaw bone. Mouthguards can be custom made to protect your teeth during high-activity sports and reduce the impact of serious damage later on.

If you’re looking for a dentist to receive restorations, contact Dr. John Batlle at Southwest Family Dentistry in Lake City, FL, for more information.