At the Beverly Hills Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Institute, Dr. Moris Aynechi and his staff serve the residents of Beverly Hills, California and many of the surrounding communities. He specializes in dental implants, veneers, and other dental procedures.
The metal rods implanted in the jaw bone are intended to be permanent. Once a tooth has been removed, the rod is put in its place to hold the upper portion or crown of the tooth. A fake tooth is made of resin, porcelain, or other material. It is the same shape and size as the tooth that was removed. Once the rod has been put in place the crown is secured to the rod where it is held firmly in place. When several teeth have been removed in one area, the teeth may be attached to one another and allowed to snap onto the posts of the implant. Even though the rods are permanently in place, the denture portion of the implant can be removed and cleaned as needed.
The rod portion of a dental implant is permanently placed into the jaw bone. Once it has been implanted, the jaw bone will grow around it firmly securing it in position. The crown of the implant can last for several years with the proper care and regular dental checkups. Crowns are made from a variety of materials including resin, porcelain, and gold. Gold crowns can last indefinitely, while resin and porcelain crowns may eventually begin to show some signs of wear and tear. Implants that involve more than one crown, properly cleaning will help to extend the life of the crown and prevent it from discoloration or damage.
Implants with crowns that are permanently attached to the metal rods are cleaned just like the rest of the teeth. Regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing are essential to prevent gum disease around the implant, while proper cleaning will prevent discoloration. Implants that have removable crowns can be cleaned in much the same way as regular dentures. Soaking them overnight in an approved dental cleaning agent will remove debris and bacteria that regular brushing may miss. Denture type implants can also be brushed while they are in place within the mouth. Keeping implants clean helps to reduce a person's exposure to bacteria and viruses.