Everyone has at some point in their life worried about staining their natural teeth. Several factors can lead to yellowish and stained teeth including, but not limited to smoking or drinking wine, coffee, and tea regularly. Of course, professional teeth cleaning and teeth whitening services can help keep smiles pearly white, but is discoloration also a concern for those with dental implant?
Patients who are worried about discoloring the implants their dentist have put in place should know all the facts. Here are some facts about dental implants and staining from your resident implant dentist Reston residents trust:
Fact: Implants Do Not Decay
One cause of tooth discoloration are cavities and tooth decay. Thankfully, this is not an issue when it comes to dental implants. Since the implants are made with a synthetic material, this means they are not vulnerable to decay or cavities. However, this does not mean patients shouldn’t practice good oral hygiene.
Treat the implant dentist Reston placed like they are your natural teeth. This means brushing twice a day and flossing regularly. Doing this will ensure the implants last a lifetime and the natural teeth beside them don’t suffer from neglect.
Fact: Implants Are Designed To Resist Stains, But They Have Limits
The short answer to the question, yes implants can discolor and stain. Although this will take a lot of effort on your part, it is highly possible for the dental implants to stain for the same reasons as your natural teeth. Staining and discoloration occur when the protective glazing on the implant is damaged or compromised.
Habits such as munching on ice or regularly eating hard food are the common causes of false tooth damage, so it is best to avoid these. If you enjoy drinking coffee, tea, or wine often or if you are an avid tobacco user and you also enjoy chewing on hard items, the chances of staining your implants are very high.
Fact: Correcting Stained Implants Requires A Professional
Although it might seem like the dental implants have lasted you a while without showing any signs of damage it is best to stop the bad habits mentioned before. Unlike natural teeth where stains can be lifted by using at-home whitening kits or a quick visit to your dentist, removing stains from dental implants require more work.
Professional treatment such as reglazing, polishing, or even full implant replacement might be required to solve the discoloration issue. Since the implants themselves were an investment, it is in your best interest to take good care of them from the very beginning.
Visit Your Reston Dentist Regularly
The best and only way to ensure the implants do not discolor is to visit your local dentist regularly. Your dentist will monitor your overall oral health and inform you of any complications before they progress while also offering treatment options as soon as possible. As long as you follow the dentist’s orders the risk of staining both your natural teeth and the implant will be very low.
If you are looking for an implant dentist Reston, contact Northern Virginia Oral, Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery clinic today. Let us help you bring back that perfect smile.