Getting dental implants involves an investment in both time and resources. Not only are you financially responsible for the surgery and supplies, but it also takes several months for your jawbone to fuse with the titanium rods as you recover. However, once this osseointegration process is complete, you’ll be able to enjoy their many benefits, like the ability to easily chew a wide variety of foods and clearly enunciate words.
It’s only natural to want to do everything you can to preserve the look and feel of your recently restored smile. One question on many patients’ minds is whether their prosthetics will stain like their natural teeth. If you’re curious, keep reading to learn more about it!
How Do Teeth Stain?
Before answering the question about whether dental implants can become discolored, it’s important to understand how your teeth are stained. Although you might think that your pearly whites are completely smooth, the truth is that they’re covered in microscopic pores. Different ingredients, like darkly pigmented tannins from coffee, tea, and berries, can bind with saliva and other particles in your mouth and cling to your enamel. With prolonged or repeated exposure, this can eventually soak into the tiny grooves to leave them looking more yellow or brown than white.
What Are Dental Implants Made From?
Your dental implants differ from the teeth you were born with because they’re not comprised of the same organic material. They include a titanium rod embedded into your jawbone and capped with appropriate restoration, like a dental crown, built from durable tooth-colored materials. The tooth portion is often made of resilient porcelain, which has fewer pores than your pearly whites. Furthermore, this material is coated with a glaze that helps it resist a certain amount of damage and discoloration.
Do Dental Implants Stain?
Dental implants are known for their strength and longevity, but they’re not entirely untouchable. They can be injured or stained if they’re overly exposed to harmful foods and ingredients. For instance, eating an overly acidic diet can wear away their protective glaze, leaving them unprotected. Furthermore, brushing them with abrasive materials and chemicals can roughen the surface, giving pigmented particles a place to cling.
To keep your restorations in tip-top shape, you should gently brush and floss them twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush and gentle toothpaste to prevent potential harm. Also, you should schedule a routine checkup and cleaning with your dentist once every six months so they can more consistently remove surface stains.
Maintaining your implants correctly can protect and preserve them for years to come!
About the Author
Dr. Sienna Palmer takes pride in helping people of all ages improve their lives by enhancing their oral health. She earned her dental doctorate at the distinguished Ostrow School of Dentistry at the University of Southern California, and is a member of several professional organizations including the American Dental Association. Her family-friendly practice is equipped with advanced dental technology to offer the most up-to-date services available. Plus, she partners with the best surgery specialists in the area, so you know you and your dental implants are in good hands. If you need to replace a missing tooth, you can request a consultation on the website or call (949) 365-0951.