Does Food Get Stuck under Dental Implants?

Missing a tooth or two can be worrisome for many people; your self-esteem and normal speech patterns become affected due to the dread that someone might notice your displeasing missing teeth. 

Dental implants in Jacksonville from Natural Teeth Implant Center are the best solution for this problem. The implants will help restore normal chewing habits, in addition to boosting self-esteem.

Dental Implants

While mimicking natural teeth is an almost impossible task, dental implants are the closest thing to them.

These tiny fittings aim to seamlessly replace the missing teeth with structures that can provide all the chewing functions of natural teeth. More specifically, the metal post of dental implants provides the foundation for the crowns to be fixed.

What They Do

Once put in place, dental implants enable you to regain the chewing function of the missing teeth.

For many years, dentures have been the solution for missing teeth. Unlike dental implants, dentures can slip out of position. This, along with their structure, makes them less-than-ideal for some chewing movements of the mouth. Dental implants do not have issues slipping out of position because they are permanently embedded into the jawbone, ensuring their stability.

Food getting under dental implants is a major concern among many patients seeking this kind of procedure. Ideally, your dentist will design implants that are completely compatible with the surrounding teeth and gum structure.

This customized design ensures that it is nearly impossible for food particles and debris to insert themselves in the spaces between the dental implants.

In rare cases, a dentist may have inserted the dental implants incorrectly, which will cause food to stick around the implants.

If the implants are placed too close to the gum surface or at an unsuitable angle, food can get stuck around them. The tooth-looking part of the dental implant (crown) is very similar to the surface structure of a natural tooth. Both of them have slippery surfaces that ensure food particles do not adhere to their surfaces.

Ceramic is the most common material from which the crown of a dental implant is manufactured. It is very similar to enamel, the hard outer part of the tooth that ensures a slippery tooth surface.

While some natural food substances are more likely to stick to the dental implant crown, most do not.

Unlike dentures, dental implants do not have plastic components that encourage food debris to adhere.

Proper dental hygiene, much like taking care of your natural teeth, is enough to ward off sticky food particles and complications.

Solutions

Part of a rigorous dental cleaning procedure should include an oral irrigator. Also known as water flossers, these mini-devices help remove debris and food particles between the teeth, much like dental floss.

 An oral irrigator accomplishes this cleaning action by blasting a tiny stream of water or air at the spaces between your teeth and the gum line. This is very effective at eliminating food particles that may not be accessible using regular methods like regular brushing.

Dental implants present a risk of bacterial infections if not properly cared for. You must follow your dentist’s advice while maintaining proper dental hygiene practices.

The instances when your dental implants regularly catch food particles may indicate a more serious problem. Ensure to contact your dentist immediately in such a scenario.

 Depending on what your dentist finds, these are the common issues that result in food particles getting stuck around dental implants:

i)Size:

The location of a dental implant greatly determines its size. Those inserted toward the front end of the mouth, for example, are usually longer than those to be fitted toward the back of the mouth. This variation in length factors in the depth of both the mandibular canal and maxillary sinuses.

An ill-fitting crown can also leave minute spaces where food particles can accumulate.

Dental implants that are unusually small tend to accumulate food particles around them. Ensuring their precise size before implantation can avoid this problem.

ii) Improper Insertion Procedure.

It is recommended that any dental implant procedure be performed by an experienced dentist or dental surgeon. This precaution is to ensure that the actual insertion and placement are done properly. Issues of loose metal posts and crowns can arise if not done properly, creating tiny spaces that can harbor food particles.

Regular dental visits can help to address many of these issues before they can become serious problems.