Jeff Neal

Yes

Yes, its just a bit more challenging.

Absolutely yes.

Used properly, yes a WaterPik can aid you in cleaning. I suggest using both conventional floss as well

Yes. The dentist should have showed you how to maintain hygiene with your new bridge. I suggest you make an appointment with the hygienist at your dentist office and they can provide clear instructions and recommendations for any specific tools.

When you have lost more teeth or when they appear worn or become loose. If the partials are lifting or the clasps break you should consider replacing them.

I would find it incredibly unlikely that you have oral cancer given your age and your lifestyle choices. I dont think you have anything to worry about, however it is always best to allow a dentist or your primary medical professional to evaluate any significant lumps or changes to the soft tissue in your mouth. I suggest you consult your dentist or physician despite the low probability of cancer. Jeff Neal, DDS South Carolina

The question requires a few more details. I dont think any implant has ever broken from being subjected to conditions related to chewing and normal oral functioning. Implants are nearly always made of medical grade Titanium alloys and therefore are incredibly strong and durable. The screws used to attach crowns and dentures can break but usually its simply due to the screws being loosened by normal function over time. They are fairly easy to re-tighten or replace and your dentist can generally take care of the problem with a quick appointment.

This is not very unusual. A new crown is not just like a new pair of shoes. It oftentimes is simply an issue with your bite and how the new crown interacts with the opposing tooth. Another common problem is perhaps there is excess cement around the crown that is irritating the gum tissues and causing discomfort. It could be other reasons but these two problems occur quite often and are easily remedied with a quick visit to your dentist. Only they can determine the actual cause and fix the problem for you. Great Question!

Im glad you asked this question. First off, lets make sure I understand your situation. Did you just have the restorations placed, or was it only the implants themselves? You see the implant restored missing tooth is really a 3 part system. I like to use the analogy of hanging a picture on a wall. To hang a picture you must first drill a hole in the drywall and place an anchor, often called a "molly". Once the anchor is in place, you have to place a screw in the anchor and then you can hang the picture. You see the implant is the "molly" or "anchor". The screw is what we call an ABUTMENT. The Crown is the picture. Nowadays we usually prefer to combine the abutment and crown into a single unit. In this case the crown would have an access tunnel through the crown where a screw is placed to tighten into the implant. This is a screw-retained Abutment/Crown, and it is the preferred method to replace a missing tooth with an implant system. Implant restorations require meticulous cleaning because if they are not kept clean, you can develop peri-implantitis which is inflammation around an implant restoration and which can lead to loss of the implant and crown. Once the procedure to replace a tooth or multiple teeth with implants is finished, nothing is more important than oral hygiene to prevent peri-implantitis and preserve the health of the implant. So traditional brushing and flossing still applies just as in natural teeth, but I usually recommend patient's invest in a powered toothbrush as well as a water-flosser type of machine such as a WaterPik to assist in the maintenance of the implant. I suggest that you floss around the implant and other teeth, then brush with the powered toothbrush for two minutes, and finally use the water-flosser to finish the job. It may sound like a lot of work but I suggest you remember the investment you made in the implant and go the extra mile to maintain the tissues around it. As always please remember that routine professional care is mandatory with your dental professional to make sure you are doing a good job of keeping gum disease at bay. Visits with your dental hygienist and dentist twice or more times a year a paramount to a successful and long-lasting implant restoration. When in doubt always consult your dentist and hygienist for tips on how to keep your mouth disease free. Remember, "Floss 'em if you got 'em. Jeff Neal, DDS