Cleaning
Daily Hygiene Rules to Follow
Brush twice a day with a standard toothbrush and toothpaste. If you have any remaining natural teeth ( if you only get either upper or lower) a soft bristle brush and toothpaste containing fluoride is recommended. Do NOT use an electric toothbrush.
Brushing should include all surfaces of the teeth, as well as the gums and around the implants. It should be noted that you can’t damage the implants while brushing. It may be uncomfortable at first but you should persist with it.
NOTE: Bleeding may be a sign of inflammation and will often subside with effective hygiene
Floss under the bridge using X-Floss and or one of these methods (waterpik, tee-pee brushes, mouth rinse) at least once a day, preferably before bed.
NOTE: A waterpik should not be used on your top teeth if you have had Zygoma implants AT ALL. If you have had Zygoma on the top and standard on the bottom, you can still use the waterpik on your bottom teeth.
You should have the underside of your bridge professionally cleaned every 3-6 months ; in most cases the bridge does not have to be removed.
Aftercare
After Your Surgery
3 Week Review
You will return for a check-up 3 weeks after your implant surgery. During this appointment any swelling, bruising or discomfort that may have been apparent would have gone. During the appointment we will:
- Show you how to clean your implants
- Explain how to use cleaning tools (X floss & waterpik)
- Make sure the implants and surrounding gums are healing
- See if there are any adjustments that need to be made (if you feel that something is off/feels uncomfortable)
4 Month Review
You will return for your final check-up 4 Months after you have had your implant surgery. By this time the process of osseointegration ( integration of the implants to the bone) should have occurred and your implants should be fully healed. During this appointment we will:
- Check your cleaning habits
- Check your bite
- CBCT x-ray to see if the implants have integrated
- Provide anti-clenching ( if required )
- Take Final Photos
Maintenance
Maintain Good and Consistent Cleaning Habits
You should continue to floss at least once a day with the x-floss, use a waterpik multiple times a day and brush daily to maintain a healthy mouth. If you don't clean your prosthesis properly, there is a higher chance that the implants may fail.
The correct way to clean your teeth using the following products:
X-Floss: Count 4 teeth to the right from the middle top or bottom teeth and place the piece of x-floss between the gums and the bridge so that you are in one of the sections (there are 3 sections given that there are 4 implants). With both hands use a flossing motion to remove any build up of food that may have got stuck underneath the gap of the prosthesis. Do the same for the other side, top and bottom.
Waterpik: The waterpik shouldn't be used as as an alternative to flossing, it should be used in conjunction with it. The waterpik can be used multiple times a day to keep the mouth refreshed, especially after eating. It should be placed on the gum line, where the bridge and gums meet and use the tool to remove any food that may be stuck. This helps it avoid from it building up under the prosthesis. Flossing can then be used at the end of the night before bed.
Regular Tooth Brush: To be used twice daily to brush your teeth and more importantly the area where the gum tissue meets the prosthesis. This is important for gum health, keeping your breath fresh and removing any food that might have got stuck.
Interdental Brushes: These smaller brushes should be used in the gaps between the gum line and prosthesis where a regular toothbrush may not be able to fit. You do not have to use toothpaste on these brushes, as they are used to remove small parts of food; however you can for freshness.
NOTE: Every case is different but usually return for a check-up every 6 months like you would a regular dental check-up.
If you are experiencing any issues including pain, bleeding, or severe discomfort- please contact our clinics at 1300 255 400 immediately.
Below is a video which explains the steps of how you should clean your All On 4 Plus® Dental Implants:
Frequently Asked Questions
It's completely natural to have questions and we believe informed patients make confident decisions. That's why we've put together this handy FAQ—to help you better understand what to expect, and how we support you every step of the way.
Can food get stuck under the bridge?
Food and bacteria can always get stuck under the bridge in between the gum line and the bridge. This is completely normal and it shouldn't worry you, as cleaning your immediate funnel teeth is very much like cleaning your own teeth. You have to brush around all the surfaces of your teeth, the biting side, the cheek side and the tongue side. You also have to clean beneath the Immediate final teeth using a specialised floss called X floss; we can show you how to do this when you are at home, which should continue on a daily basis.
Can my implants get infected?
Implants can get infected when they are not being looked after. If you are not visiting the dentist regularly or if you are not cleaning them enough they can become infected. You usually will start to feel a bit of discomfort around the implants, you can get a bad smell and bad taste in your mouth, which is usually a sign of infection. There can also be some swelling around the face, implants and gum line. If we catch this infection early, it is normally very easy to treat. It can become a little bit more complicated if the infection is left and it develops more around the implants. So if you feel that there may be something wrong with your implants, make an appointment with us ASAP.
What tools do I need to use to clean them?
We recommend using a soft toothbrush to brush your Immediate Final Teeth, we do not recommend using an electric toothbrush as that can rattle
around too much we also recommend using a product called x-floss to clean beneath the teeth and between the implants. We will give you tools like a Waterpik, which can also be used to help you to clean food out from beneath the Immediate Final Teeth. Interdental brushes are also handy to brush between the gum line and bridge line. We will explain in your 3 week review how to use each of these products.
Can I get new implants?
Often when patients are talking about problems that occur with the implants, they are actually referring to the Immediate Final Teeth (bridges). It is usually quite easy to fix any issues that may occur with the teeth such as breaks or chips. It's as easy as you come in the morning, we take out your Immediate final teeth, put in your temporary teeth, and over a few hours, we bring them to the lab where they will repair whatever damage there is to your Immediate Final Teeth. You will then get your teeth back towards the end of the day. If you find that you are having multiple breakages, we may need to use some other tactics such as anti-clenching injections or upgrade your teeth to zirconia ( a harder, more durable material).
Are there dietary restrictions to follow?
Once the implants are fully integrated and healed in the bone you can go back to a normal diet. For the first four months we'll recommend going on a
soft diet to allow the implants to completely heal and integrate into the bone. After 4 months, you can go back to eating a regular diet such as apples, steak, chips etc. Obviously, it's important to still be cautious as some foods can cause your teeth to chip or break ( such as hard/sticky toffee/caramel, some nuts, hard lollies etc). But for the most part, you can eat whatever you like.
