FAQs

It depends on how the implant placement and crown on the implant are planned. Unfortunately, this can be one of the drawbacks of implant therapy. The thought of having to clean the area around the implant after every meal due to food retention is not pleasant at all. The diameter of the implant is significantly narrower than the diameter of the tooth’s neck (the implant’s diameter is about 4 mm, while the neck of molars is 8 mm). As a result, when we place a crown of normal width (8 to 10 mm) on the implant, a large part of the crown remains unsupported on the sides. Food and debris often get trapped in this empty space, and they have to be cleaned after every meal.By carefully planning the entire implant-superstructure-crown construction, this problem can be overcome, and the patient will not have a problem with food retention. This construction actually creates the “whole tooth,” and the point is to shape it as closely as possible to a natural tooth and to be intimately attached to the existing gums. By taking this approach, we eliminate steps and empty corners, so there is no space for food to get trapped. Additionally, the implant must be placed deeper into the bone than usual.Given that we strictly follow these guidelines, you can rest assured that food will not get stuck after our therapy because we know the steps to take. Food retention around the implant is not desirable because it can cause inflammation of the gums and bone around the implant (peri-implantitis) over a longer period. If left untreated, aggressive peri-implantitis can lead not only to implant loss but also to the loss of surrounding bone.