The Decay Dilemma: Can Dental Implants Get Cavities?

With Halloween so close, many folks are thinking about tooth decay. That’s only natural – the 31st is all about sugary candy that can rot your grin! Still, folks with replacement teeth may have another question to ponder: Can dental implants get cavities? Depending on the answer, you may need to change your All Hallows’ Eve plans. The upside is that your local dentist is here, so keep reading to see whether dental implants ever get cavities.

Note How Natural Teeth Get Cavities

To know if implant posts get cavities, you’ll first need to learn how natural teeth get them. Those latter details will provide you with some crucial context.

In general, natural teeth develop cavities due to plaque. This sticky film can gather in excess over time and slowly wear down tooth enamel and dentin. As that happens, teeth will erode and develop openings – “cavities” – that make a person’s smile more vulnerable.

Unchecked cavities can cause a lot of problems for your oral health. For starters, these openings lead to toothaches that make your mouth sensitive and sore. They also let harmful bacteria reach the pulp in your teeth, putting you at risk of infections that can trigger tooth loss.

Why Dental Implants Don’t Get Cavities

Given the points above, you can see why dental implants can’t get cavities: they’re artificial! These posts aren’t made of tooth enamel that decays from bacterial acid. To that extent, you don’t need to worry about them developing holes.

All that said, dental implants do need a healthy mouth to work. They’ll become unstable if they sit near sites of oral decay, infections, etc. If a patient develops cavities in nearby teeth or gum disease, an implant post could loosen until it needs replacement.

How Best to Care for Dental Implants

To keep your dental implants from failing this Halloween (or later), you should care for them well. Do so by using the following tips:

• Keep a Clean Mouth – By brushing twice daily and flossing once daily, you’ll avoid oral issues that can threaten dental implants.
• Avoid Bad Oral Habits – If you bite hard objects or smoke tobacco, your implant posts will fail earlier than needed. That being the case, give up or quit these practices.
• See Your Dentist Often – With six-month dental checkups and cleanings, a dentist can treat the small issues that could threaten your dental implants later.

With everything said, can dental implants get cavities? No – these posts will only fail if their surroundings are unhealthy. So, talk to your dentist about ways to keep your posts safe this Halloween and the years ahead!

About the Practice

Market Heights Family Dental is based in Harker Heights, TX. Led by Drs. Tochterman and Pundt, our practice aims to give every family truly stellar smiles! That means we tailor our preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments to each patient’s mouth, ensuring the best results possible. We even partner with local experts to place dental implants that restore whole grins. For more details or to book a visit, please reach us on our website or by phone at (254)-699-3565.