Dental Implant Maintenance in Cherry Hill, NJ

Protect Your Dental Implants with Proper Care

In a nutshell, dental implant maintenance differs from caring for natural teeth for two reasons: first, implants and natural teeth attach to the surrounding bone and gums in different ways; second, the materials used for dental implants are different from those of natural teeth. Essentially, dental implants replace tooth roots, while dental crowns, dental bridges, or dentures are attached to the implants through a connector piece known as an abutment. This is why proper implant care and maintenance is so important for long-term success. At Barclay Family Dental, our team provides dental implant maintenance in Cherry Hill, NJ, to help patients maintain healthy tissues around their restorations.


Cleaning implant-supported tooth replacements is just as important as cleaning natural teeth, as both depend on healthy surrounding tissues for support. Plaque collects on implant crowns just as it does on natural teeth and must be removed daily at home with proper flossing and brushing. If you are wondering how to clean dental implants, our team can guide you through a proper dental implant hygiene routine, including appropriate brushing, flossing, and cleaning methods for different types of implant restorations.

Without daily care, an inflammatory condition known as peri-implantitis may develop, potentially resulting in the loss of the implant. Unlike some forms of inflammation around natural teeth, peri-implantitis can lead to progressive bone loss around the affected implant and may eventually compromise its stability. Proper oral hygiene, early evaluation, and professional maintenance are important for preventing peri-implantitis and protecting the surrounding gums and bone.


Our dental hygiene team has an important role to play in helping maintain healthy dental implants, and there are many factors to consider when selecting instruments for a professional dental implant cleaning. To choose the most effective instruments, we perform an oral examination to understand the nature of the debris, the location of deposits, the type of surface on which they accumulate, and how firmly they adhere. This careful evaluation supports plaque removal around dental implants and ongoing dental implant tissue health maintenance.


Our team must select instruments for cleaning that will not damage the crown, bridge, denture, abutment, or implant itself. This is especially important when cleaning implant-supported crowns and bridges or providing implant-supported denture cleaning. Maintaining the smooth surfaces of implant abutments and attachments is important because surface damage can encourage bacterial accumulation. The cleaning instruments selected must therefore be appropriate for the restoration materials and implant surfaces. If you have ever wondered how dentists clean dental implants, careful instrument selection is an important part of professional implant care.


If any part of the implant body itself becomes visible, this may indicate changes in the surrounding gum or bone support that require professional evaluation. Patients should also watch for dental implant infection signs or inflammation around dental implants, such as swelling, tenderness, bleeding, or changes around the implant site. Implant surfaces are often microscopically roughened to support integration with the jawbone. However, exposed implant surfaces and threads may be more difficult to clean thoroughly. These challenges are why consistent dental implant aftercare and regular implant maintenance appointments in Cherry Hill are important for monitoring implant health.


Despite these special cleaning challenges, dental implants have demonstrated high success rates. However, long-term outcomes vary according to individual health, implant conditions, and maintenance habits. The prevention and early management of peri-implantitis are fundamental to implant health, maintenance, and function. If you are wondering how often dental implants should be cleaned, whether dental implants can become infected, or what happens when implants are not properly maintained, our team can help you understand an appropriate care schedule. Patients seeking dental implant cleaning in Cherry Hill, NJ, can contact Barclay Family Dental for professional evaluation and maintenance recommendations.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do you properly clean and maintain dental implants?

    Proper dental implant maintenance involves daily brushing, cleaning between the teeth and implant restorations, and attending regular professional checkups. A soft-bristled toothbrush, implant-appropriate floss, interdental brushes, or a water flosser may be recommended depending on the restoration. Because implant-supported crowns, bridges, and dentures have different cleaning requirements, your dentist can help you choose the appropriate tools. At Barclay Family Dental, we provide guidance on how to clean dental implants and maintain healthy surrounding gums through personalized oral hygiene recommendations.

  • How often should dental implants be professionally cleaned?

    The frequency of professional dental implant cleaning depends on several factors, including your oral health, the type of implant restoration, previous gum disease, and how effectively you maintain your implants at home. Some patients benefit from maintenance visits every three to six months, while others may require a different schedule based on their individual needs. During a dental implant checkup in Cherry Hill, NJ, our dental team examines the surrounding tissues, evaluates implant stability, and recommends an appropriate cleaning and monitoring schedule to help support long-term implant health.

  • Can dental implants become infected if they are not cleaned properly?

    Yes, although the implant itself cannot develop a cavity, the surrounding gum and bone tissues can become inflamed or infected when plaque and bacteria accumulate. One concern is peri-implantitis, an inflammatory condition associated with progressive bone loss around dental implants. Symptoms may include bleeding, swollen gums, tenderness, or changes in implant stability. Maintaining a consistent dental implant hygiene routine, attending regular checkups, and seeking prompt evaluation for concerning symptoms can help reduce complications and support peri-implantitis prevention.

  • What happens during a professional dental implant cleaning?

    During a professional implant cleaning, the dental hygienist evaluates the tissues surrounding your implant and checks for plaque, inflammation, bleeding, or other signs of potential complications. Specialized cleaning instruments are selected based on the type of implant restoration and the surfaces being cleaned. The dentist may also assess the stability of the implant crown, bridge, or denture and recommend additional monitoring when necessary. At Barclay Family Dental, our dental implant maintenance services in Cherry Hill focus on professional cleaning, patient education, and maintaining healthy surrounding tissues.

  • What should I do if my dental implant feels loose or my gums are bleeding?

    If you notice bleeding around a dental implant, persistent swelling, discomfort, or a loose implant restoration, contact your dentist promptly for an evaluation. These symptoms may indicate inflammation, a problem with the restoration, or another condition affecting the surrounding tissues. A loose crown or abutment is different from movement of the implant itself, so professional assessment is important. At Barclay Family Dental, patients experiencing dental implant complications in Cherry Hill, NJ, can contact our office to discuss their symptoms and arrange an appropriate examination.