The implantation and restoration of implant dentures do not signify the completion of all diagnostic and treatment processes for patients. The maintenance and follow-up of implant dentures are often crucial factors determining their long-term success rates. This is a significant and ongoing task, an effective guarantee of the success of the implant plan, and requires the joint efforts and meticulous maintenance of both doctors and patients.
Implant dentures typically consist of implants, abutments, and crowns, and their technology is relatively complex. We recommend that patients seeking implant dentures should choose those made by certified China dental lab. This can simplify and ease the maintenance process in the later stages.
In general, the maintenance of implant dentures mainly includes self-maintenance and professional maintenance.
(1) Plaque Control: The transgingival portion of the implant forms an epithelial cuff with the gingival epithelium, preventing various oral infections from entering the implant-bone integration interface and thus maintaining the long-term stability of the implant denture. Biological destruction of this cuff by bacteria, viruses, etc., as well as mechanical destruction of the cuff when the implant denture is stressed, can directly affect its service life. Therefore, it is necessary to perform special implant prophylaxis around the implant denture and routine prophylaxis on surrounding natural teeth.
(2) Regular Occlusal Adjustment: On the one hand, the wear rate of implant dentures differs from that of natural teeth, disrupting the establishment of physiological occlusion and potentially causing occlusal trauma. On the other hand, natural teeth inherently have a forward and occlusal plane-directed movement, while implant dentures lack the driving force for these two directional movements. Therefore, it is necessary to perform regular occlusal adjustments on implant dentures to adapt to the ever-changing occlusal relationships. Occlusal adjustment is a highly specialized technique, and during the production of implant dentures, Implant-supported China dental laboratory will adjust the occlusal framework to properly align the occlusion.
(3) Regular Follow-up Examinations: While natural teeth have natural fusion and coordination among their various parts, implant dentures rely on precise screw fixation or advanced adhesive technology for connection. Given that mechanical connections may be limited by fatigue life and mechanical properties, leading to loosening among implant components, and that adhesive connections may also cause instability of the restoration due to adhesive loosening or natural aging, we strongly recommend that patients undergo regular X-ray examinations at Professional Chinese Dental Laboratory to comprehensively assess the status of all implant denture components and ensure timely detection and management of any potential issues, thereby safeguarding the long-term stability and effectiveness of the implant denture.
(4) Periodontal Disease Management: Patients with periodontitis often have poor oral hygiene awareness, many with a history of smoking, and are at a higher risk of developing peri-implantitis and recurrent periodontitis. Furthermore, periodontal pathogens can easily migrate from natural teeth to implants, leading to plaque accumulation around implants and affecting their success rates. Current perspectives also suggest that the 10-year success rate of implant dentures in patients with periodontitis is lower than in those without periodontitis. Therefore, the maintenance of implant dentures in patients with periodontal disease must be premised on controlling periodontal conditions, which requires basic treatment, periodontal surgery when necessary, and more importantly, consistent maintenance after implant denture placement.
