Hygiene Visits After All-on-4 and All-on-6 Procedures
You’ve just gotten your final set of teeth, but you’re wondering how often should All-on-4/All-on-6 prosthesis be cleaned, and how do hygienists clean implants? Don’t worry—you’re in the right place. The purpose of this blog is to discuss the hygiene or “maintenance” visits after the All on 4/All on 6 procedure. The best way to think about this is to think back to regular hygiene/cleaning visits to a dentist.
What is the aftercare for All-on-4 and All-on-6 dentures?
These hygiene appointments typically start 6 months after the patient received their final or permanent teeth. The main goals of these visits are:
- Check patient’s ability to maintain/clean the prosthesis
- Evaluate the stability/health of the dental implants
- Remove any plaque/buildup on the prosthesis
- Address any issues a patient might be having with the prosthesis.
The visit begins with removal of one or both upper and lower prosthesis and examining the natural gums underneath. If the gums are red and swollen, it’s most likely due to the buildup of debris under the prosthesis. This can be addressed with going over the proper hygiene instructions again with the patient. The redness can also be caused by too much tissue pressure of the prosthesis onto the natural gums. In that case, the prosthesis may need to be adjusted in some areas or re-made.
Next, each implant is checked for stability and the findings are compared to the initial stability of the implants at the 3 months mark after the surgery. Usually, as expected, the stability of the implants is further improved or is at the very least the same. If the stability of one or more implants has decreased, this needs to be investigated with further testing to determine the cause.
Next, the gum tissues and implants are cleaned to remove any areas of buildup and the mouth is cleaned/rinsed with a special solution. Once the prosthesis has been cleaned and refreshed, the prosthesis is placed back in the mouth and secured with prosthetic screws.
Finally, the X-ray is taken to ensure that bone levels are maintained around the implants and there are no issues that are brewing “under the surface”.
Overall the appointment takes about 30-45 minutes. It is recommended that the patient undergoes maintenance/hygiene visits every 6 months, but at the very least once per year. This assures that if there are any issues with a patient’s hygiene routine or with implants, these issues can be addressed in a timely manner and the patient can continue to live comfortably with their All on 4/All on 6 prosthesis.
Want to maintain your All-on-4 or All-on-6 implants the right way? Contact us today!
Maintaining your All-on-4 or All-on-6 prosthesis is as important as the procedure itself, ensuring longevity and comfort. With regular hygiene visits, issues like plaque buildup, gum irritation, or implant stability concerns can be quickly identified and resolved. At Temecula Dental Implants & Oral Surgery, there’s no complication too complex for our expert team to handle. Feel free to reach out and we’ll ensure your implants stay in great shape for years to come.
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