Information About Dental Implant Healing Caps

15 July 2019
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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Dental implants are typically completed in stages so that healing can occur before any pressure is placed on the new device. And, to allow your jaw to heal properly, the implant root is fitted with something called a healing cap. Keep reading to learn about what this is and also how you should be taking care of it.

What Is An Implant Healing Cap

There are a wide variety of different dental implant devices that are utilized by oral surgeons. Most of them have small caps or other devices that sit on the top of the implant during the initial healing process. This cap is something that sits just inside the opening of the dental implant. This opening is positioned on the top edge of the implant device where the metal part sits exposed in the mouth. This is where you can expect to have your artificial tooth attached. Since this cannot happen right away, the healing cap serves as a place-saver in the meantime. 

The healing cap is chosen by your dentist and is made from the same titanium material as the dental implant device. There are a variety of these caps that can be chosen based on the desired effect in relation to the healing process itself. Specifically, your dentist will look at the way that he wants the gums to heal after the operation and choose a cap that will allow for optimal healing. Both length and width are considered to ensure that gingival tissues are able to build up and around the cap without compromising the future placement of the implant tooth. 

How Should You Care For The Cap?

Implant healing caps do not need a great deal of special care. However, there are a few important things that you should be doing when it comes to keeping the device in good condition. One of the most important aspects of care involves testing to make sure the device is not loose in any way. The healing process can actually twist the cap a small amount. This can cause complications where gingival tissues grow underneath the cap. Also, a loose cap will allow food and bacteria to gather underneath the device and this will irritate the healing tissues in the region. So, make sure that you gently press on the cap a few times a week to make sure that there is no movement.

You also want to clean around the cap thoroughly with your toothbrush and dental floss. Flossers with small scrubbing ends are a good option to ensure that the implant cap is cleaned and to ensure that the surrounding teeth are not gathering plaque. 

For more information, contact a company like the Chicago Center for Esthetic, Reconstructive and Implant Dentistry.