After a surgical procedure has been performed, the prosthodontist will let you know when to come by for monitoring and advancement to the next step. The exact timing will depend on your general health as well as the condition of surrounding teeth, gum tissue and jawbone. Dental implants can take as much as nine months to complete from start to finish, meaning that monitoring the body's progress in adapting to the implant is a crucial step in overall success. Checking dental implants needs to be done even after the operation is initially declared a success.
One complication that could arise stems from the fact that dental implants interact with the gum tissue to a lesser extent than do natural teeth. This means that the tiny gap formed between gum and implant could allow bacteria and consequent infection to a larger extent than would a natural gum-tooth profile. As such, bacteria or other foreign irritants could potentially cause more trouble in the vicinity of a dental implant than one might suspect.
The general guideline is that every three to four months, someone with dental implants should visit a dentist for monitoring, cleaning and so on. In areas like Beverly Hills or other parts of Los Angeles, California, it is relatively easy to find dental staff that specialize in dealing with oral hygiene specifically related to dental implants. Other parts of the country may not be as fortunate, so make sure to schedule time and cultivate relationships with nearby dental professionals that will enable you to have access to professionals with experience in oral hygiene relating to dental implants.