Periodontal disease also referred to as gum disease, causes inflammation of the gums. The infection arises from bacteria growth and is usually a result of poor oral hygiene. Periodontitis, which starts as gingivitis, a mild form of the disease, occurs when you let gum disease thrive without treating it. Often people who have implants ask if these prosthetics can cause gum disease. While gum disease can lead to tooth loss, which compels you to get dental implants, on the other hand, the implants themselves may not necessarily cause gum disease. When periodontitis occurs when you have dental implants, it is referred to as peri-implantitis.
Causes of Gum Disease
Poor oral hygiene is the culprit of gum disease. If you do not brush and floss properly, you are at risk of having gum disease. When you miss cleaning your mouth, you let bacteria move in and attack the tooth, bone, and gums. When it comes to peri-implantitis, dental implants do not by themselves cause gum disease. Often, it is a result of poor oral care.
When you receive dental implants you should be prepared to take care of your oral health. Inflammation of gums is likely to occur from bacterial overgrowth if you fail to maintain proper oral care. Peri-implantitis can spell disaster for the implants, increasing the chances of failure. That being said, dental implant failure is not common because these prosthetics have a success rate of about 95 percent.
Peri-implantitis is considered a risk if you have implants. Even after you receive your implants, you should ensure you have regular dental checkups to help monitor their state and catch potential problems early on. Having fake teeth replace the real ones you have lost does not mean that the mouth is immune to gum disease or other problems that affect natural teeth. Visit our dental office to learn more about dental implants and how they relate to gum disease.
