Author: Nrp900Ri22Df

Are you considering a dental implant? Or maybe you already have one (or several)? If so, it is important to understand how to prevent peri-implantitis, a condition that may occur in individuals with implants. Just as gum disease can occur around a natural tooth, similar inflammation can occur around a dental implant, making oral hygiene, prevention, and early detection vital for implant longevity and your overall health.

What is Peri-implantitis?

Left untreated, the build-up of bacterial plaque can cause periodontitis, also known as gum disease. Similarly, peri-implantitis involves the build-up of bacterial plaque around an implant, causing inflammation and eventual bone loss. When detected early, peri-implantitis is manageable, and the implant can often be maintained. However, severe cases causing bone loss may eventually cause implant failure.

Symptoms and Risk factors

Signs of peri-implantitis resemble gum disease symptoms. These signs include red and tender gums around the implant, swelling, and/or bleeding when brushing or flossing. Like natural teeth, implants require regular brushing, flossing, and routine check-ups for maintenance and plaque control.

Individuals at higher risk for peri-implantitis include those who do not maintain the hygiene protocol recommended by their oral health professional. Other risk factors include previous periodontitis, systemic diseases like diabetes, smoking, and vaping.

How to Prevent Peri-Implantitis

If you have an implant, you’ve already made an important investment in your oral, and overall, health and well-being. So it is crucial to be proactive in protecting the health of your implant to prevent or manage peri-implantitis.

To prevent peri-implantitis, make sure you are closely adhering to your home care hygiene protocol. This includes flossing around the implant, just like you would with a natural tooth. Also, make sure you attend your regular dental hygiene appointments. These steps will help ensure the longevity of your  implant.

If you notice any oral inflammation or bleeding, it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible. Schedule an appointment even if it is not time for your regularly scheduled check-up so that your oral health professional can detect any underlying issues and get you started on a treatment program to lower the risk of disease progression.

Finally, in severe cases of peri-implantitis, the implant may need to be removed and replaced. However, consistent and thorough at-home hygiene habits, regular visits, and attention to early warning signs will help prevent the implant from having to be replaced in the first place. Read more here and here about steps you can take to promote the long-term success of your implant, and find out we can use laser therapy to treat peri-implantitis here.

Have questions or concerns? Give us a call at 919-518-8222. We are happy to help. Serving the greater Triangle area – Raleigh, Cary, Apex, and Wake Forest.

For more information on this topic, listen to the Gum Guru Podcast by clicking the link below:

Golf Bag of Treatment Options

Wishing you and your families a very Happy Easter and a wonderful weekend. In observance of the holiday, our office will be closed for Good Friday.

Millions of Americans have at least one missing tooth. With rapid technological advances, there are numerous options for individuals with missing teeth to restore their smiles. Dental implants are foremost among the options available to patients. However, some people are wary of the pain that they believe an implant procedure may entail. Fortunately, an implant procedure is not nearly as uncomfortable as some may believe, for the reasons explained further below.

Periodontitis (gum disease) is a multifactorial inflammatory disease that destroys teeth-supporting structures such as gum tissue and the jaw bone if left untreated. Although we often think of periodontal disease as a condition that only impacts grown-ups, in fact, children and teenagers can suffer from gum disease as well. There are a number of reasons why an adolescent might develop gum disease.

Patients here in Raleigh are sometimes curious about what steps we take to ensure the health of everyone in the office. The answer is “alot!”

Preventing and controlling the spread of infectious disease is crucial in the oral health community. The Center for Disease Control (“CDC”) and the American Dental Association have enacted thorough guidelines that help us create a safe environment for our patients and staff. By implementing proven cleaning and sterilization methods, North Raleigh Periodontics greatly reduces the risk of patients contracting any type of infectious disease.

Instrument Safety

At North Raleigh Periodontics, we ensure that every instrument is sterilized using the highest industry standards. Every instrument undergoes an intense sterilization process between each use.

First, we clean all our instruments by placing them in the ultrasonic machine. This machine uses ultrasonic vibrations to deep clean and destroy surface pathogens. Then we place the instruments in a heated dryer. The heated dryer eliminates moisture to prevent the regrowth of bacteria. Next, we bag each instrument individually and place it in an autoclave. The autoclave uses hot, pressurized, steam to destroy the protein structure of any potentially lingering bacteria and spores. After this process, the instrument is ready to use.

Hand Hygiene

Hand hygiene is basic but fundamental to protecting against infections. Every staff member washes their hands thoroughly throughout the day and before and after patient visits. Additionally, we use fresh gloves for each patient interaction, and we change gloves every time we touch a surface during every patient visit.

Clean Surfaces

Although seemingly a no-brainer, clean surfaces are crucial to upholding top-notch hygiene standards. To keep our surfaces bacteria-free, we disinfectant surfaces in the morning, evening, and throughout the day. We also cover surfaces with barriers that are changed between patients.

Personal Protective Equipment

To protect ourselves and our patients, we utilize personal protective equipment (“PPE”) . We use masks, gowns, shoe covers, gloves, caps, and facial shields. We change out the PPE between patients.

Air quality

We also use an air purification system in each operatory and in the waiting area. These systems use U-V light to kill any viral particles and circulate clean air throughout the office. We also use high-speed suction devices to remove aerosols from the vicinity of the patient.

Water Quality

Clean water is a key element in dental treatment. Cleaning the waterlines is a critical step to ensure the water quality meets the high standards of the Environmental Protection Agency. At North Raleigh Periodontics, we use our own internal water system to pump distilled water. We also employ steristraws that hook into the water lines to further sterilize the water as it flows through our system. Additionally, we flush the water lines daily and clean the water filters weekly.

In conclusion, we take every step to ensure that our facility is sterilized and bacteria-free for the health and safety of everyone who comes through our doors. You can rest easy knowing that when you visit North Raleigh Periodontics, you will be entering an environment that meets, and exceeds, industry standards.

Have questions? Give North Raleigh Periodontics a call at (919) 518-8222! Serving the greater Triangle area – Raleigh, Cary, Apex, and Wake Forest.