Implants Can Fail Without Proper Care.
The most common cause of late implant failure is peri-implantitis — a bacterial infection of the gum and bone tissue surrounding the implant post. It begins as inflammation (peri-implant mucositis, essentially implant-specific gingivitis) and progresses to bone loss around the post, ultimately threatening the implant’s structural integrity.
Peri-implantitis is largely preventable with consistent home care and professional maintenance. The bacteria that cause it form biofilm at and below the gumline — in areas that standard brushing and flossing cannot adequately reach. Professional cleaning removes this biofilm before it becomes a clinical problem.
- Peri-implantitis is preventable — not inevitable
- Bacterial biofilm requires professional removal
- Catching problems early is far simpler than treating them late
What Happens at Your Implant Cleaning.
Implant maintenance is not the same as a standard teeth cleaning. We use implant-specific instruments and a dedicated assessment checklist at every visit.
Implant Assessment
We check implant stability, probe depths around each implant, and evaluate the gum tissue for signs of inflammation, recession, or peri-implantitis.
Radiographic Review
Periodic X-rays confirm that bone levels around each implant remain stable — catching any early bone loss before it becomes a clinical problem.
Professional Cleaning
We use titanium or carbon-fiber instruments (never metal scalers that scratch implant surfaces) to remove calculus and biofilm at and below the gumline.
Home Care Review
We assess your home care routine and recommend the appropriate tools — interdental brushes, water flossers, implant-specific floss — for your specific restoration type.
How Often Do Implants Need Professional Care?
For most patients with a single implant or a small bridge and good oral hygiene habits, twice-yearly professional maintenance visits are appropriate. Patients with full-arch restorations (All-on-4, All-on-6), a history of peri-implant issues, or conditions like diabetes that increase infection risk typically benefit from three or four visits per year.
We develop a personalized maintenance schedule for every implant patient at Sonrisa — calibrated to your specific restoration type, medical history, and hygiene compliance — so you get the protection your investment deserves, not a one-size-fits-all recall interval.
- Standard: 2 visits per year minimum
- Full-arch patients: 3–4 visits per year recommended
- Schedule personalized to your risk profile
Your Implants Are Built to Last — Let's Keep Them That Way.
Whether you had your implants placed here or elsewhere, our implant maintenance program keeps them performing for life. Book your cleaning and implant health check today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when needed. Food and bacteria can build up under a fixed bridge where your toothbrush can’t reach. So we unscrew the bridge from time to time, often about once a year, to clean underneath it and check the implants and gums. It goes back in at the same visit, so you never leave without your teeth.
They do. Besides cleaning around the implant posts, we check the small nylon inserts that hold your denture in place. These wear down over time and are usually replaced every 6 to 12 months to keep the snap firm. We also check the fit of the denture and adjust it if your gums have changed.
Call us if your gums around an implant bleed, swell or feel sore, or if you notice a bad taste, pus or a loose feeling. A snap-in denture that suddenly feels loose, or a bridge that clicks or shifts, should also be checked. These can be early signs of peri-implantitis, and treating it early gives you the best chance of saving the implant.