Caring for dental implants: daily cleaning and professional maintenance

The best protection for a long-lasting implant starts not in the dental chair but in your own bathroom – complemented by regular professional check-ups. The good news: care is not complicated, it just needs to be consistent.

Bacterial plaque is the main cause of inflammation around implants. According to the consensus report there is strong evidence that poor plaque control and lack of maintenance increase the risk of peri-implantitis (see Preventing peri-implantitis).

• Brush twice a day, including around the implant crown and along the gum line.
• Clean between the teeth – with interdental brushes of the right size or implant floss. The Scottish SDCEP guidance also recommends these aids.
• With fixed bridges and All-on-4 restorations: clean underneath the bridge too. Ask to be shown the right technique.
• Water irrigator as an extra: according to the EFP guideline it can be considered in addition to professional cleaning.

The 2023 EFP guideline recommends tailoring oral hygiene instruction to the individual patient and restoration. Ask for a demonstration for your specific situation.

Professional maintenance (recall)

The EFP guideline recommends supportive peri-implant care to reduce recurrence and implant loss. Patients should be enrolled straight after the crown is fitted. Baseline probing depths should be recorded within three months of the restoration – they serve as a reference later.

Professional cleaning may use ultrasonic or air-polishing devices or hand instruments, depending on the situation.

The EFP guideline does not set a fixed interval for healthy implants – it calls for regular, risk-based care. A meta-analysis on the effect of maintenance (Monje et al., 2016) suggests a minimum recall interval of 5 to 6 months, adjusted to individual risk. It also shows that complications can still occur with maintenance – check-ups lower the risk but do not eliminate it.

After treated peri-implantitis, the EFP recommends check-ups every 3–4 months in the first year, then tailored to the patient.

Everyday checklist

1. Brush morning and evening, paying attention to the implant area
2. Clean between teeth once a day
3. Watch for bleeding gums – an early warning sign
4. Keep recall appointments, even without symptoms
5. Stop smoking – explicitly recommended by the EFP

About the authorDr. med. dent. Hasan CoşkunCo-founder of LHC Clinic, Istanbul

Dr. Coşkun studied dentistry at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (graduated 2000) and worked as a dentist in Germany for around 20 years. He has placed more than 10,000 implants and now practises in Istanbul with a focus on implant dentistry.

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This article is for general information and does not replace a personal examination. Whether and which treatment is suitable for you can only be assessed after examination and a consultation.