Technique tips — patient information for implant maintenance

Following dental implant treatment, patient education is important for the maintenance of dental implants. The sharing of information and provision of advice will support patients in maintaining their dental implants long term. This information should include the technical aspects of their dental implants to enable patients to access dental care. This paper provides guidance on how to provide patients with information for dental implant maintenance effectively.

As dental care professionals, we have a duty of care to provide patients with full, clear and accurate information, before, during and after their treatment.1 Following dental implant treatment, patients may require assistance to maintain their dental implants and oral health. A patient may see different clinicians for placement, restoration and maintenance of implants. As time passes, the original treating dentist may no longer be practising, or the dentist or patient may move to another area. Therefore, patients should be provided with adequate information, to allow them to access appropriate dental care in the future.