Day: June 4, 2024

How To Clean All-on-4 Dental ImplantsHow To Clean All-on-4 Dental Implants

June 4, 2024June 4, 2024| Beth FeltonBeth Felton| 0 Comment | 12:00 am

Dental implants are no reason to skip good oral health habits, as oral hygiene is about much more than the teeth themselves. For those with all-on-4 dental implants, brushing and flossing are still critical tools to battle dental issues.

Explore how to clean all-on-4 dental implants below, why it’s so crucial, and how to avoid common oral hygiene mistakes in keeping the implants clean. 

Why Cleaning Dental Implants is Important

Even with Dental implants, no matter the sort, bacteria can still grow and cause infection or food debris leading to gum disease, and a host of other issues that affect other parts of the mouth. Beyond maintaining overall dental health, not regularly cleaning your dental implants can cause implant failure which can lead to a costly replacement or impair their function and lifespan. 

Maintaining good oral cleaning habits, proper teeth cleaning techniques, and in-office cleanings combined help keep your dental implants working for as long as intended while also combating other dental issues. It’s crucial to keep brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash even with all-on-4 dental implants. 

What Happens When All-on-4 Dental Implants Aren’t Cleaned?

It was mentioned, but it’s Worth doubling down on. Cleaning your dental implants is critical for keeping good oral health, but also to protect the implants themselves. If you neglect a good cleaning routine, you risk:

  • Infection around the dental implants
  • Damage to teeth, blood vessels, and other tissues in the mouth.
  • Nerve damage, which causes pain, numbness, and tingling sensations.
  • Issues with the sinuses when the implants are in the upper jaw. 

How to Clean Your All-on-4 Dental Implant

How to clean your all-on-4 dental implants may appear obvious, but dental implants usually require a few extra specialty tools on top of the usual teeth cleaning equipment:

  • Soft toothbrush: You’ll want a soft and thin bristled toothbrush for gentle cleaning
  • Soft picks: extremely thin toothpicks that are better for tight spaces
  • End tuft brush: a small type of brush that can reach the surface of the bridge’s intersection and the gum crevice
  • Mouthwash: You’ll want mouthwash that is specifically designed to soothe oral sores and other irritations that dental implants can cause. 

With the right tools ready, let’s go over how you clean your all-on-4 dental implants:

Brushing Techniques for Your Implants

Using a toothbrush for your dental implants isn’t any different technique-wise, you can brush them as you would normal teeth. Make sure to pay specific attention to the area where the implants meet the gum line though. 

How to Floss Between Your Dental Implants

Using floss twice a day is a given for general teeth care, but with dental implants, floss threaders should be used after every meal. 

Using floss is a bit different with the all-on-4 implants, as you’ll want to thread under the bridge using the floss’s firm head and floss around the implants carefully with the sponge floss. 

Using End-Tuft Brushes

The end-tuft toothbrush shouldn’t replace a normal one, but it’s a great extra tool to get to any tough areas, like where the bridge intersects with the gums. This is an important step as any food or area left unscrubbed can contribute to bacteria growth, risking infection and damaging the dental implants. 

Rinsing with Water or Mouthwash

Besides not wanting to leave all the toothpaste to sit in your mouth, you’ll want to clear out all the food debris scrubbed off and bacteria brushed away from the tongue. You can use water, but antibacterial mouthwash or mouthwash that targets oral sores and other irritations common with dental implants is best. 

Additional Tips for Maintaining Clean Dental Implants

The standard cleaning routine for the all-on-4 dental implants is fairly similar to regular brushing habits, with some extra tools and attention paid to areas around them, but some additional tips can only benefit:

  • Use a nightguard if you’re a teeth grinder
  • Maintain a regular dental cleaning appointment
  • use a water pick or water flosser
  • Brush the inside of your cheeks to get excess food particles
  • Remove and soak the dental implants in denture cleaner once a week for a deep clean

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Having a regular cleaning routine is the best way to protect your oral health and dental implants, but there are common mistakes people make in this routine that you should avoid:

  1. Brushing too aggressively: brushing too hard damages the gum tissue and the surface of the implants. Use a soft toothbrush and keep the brushing gentle to clean without doing any damage. 
  2. Neglecting regular dentist visits: professional cleaning is a must, they not only get in deeper and have better tools, but it’s an opportunity to track your health and keep an eye on your all-on-4 dental implants, prolonging their lifespan. 

Consulting Your Dentist for Proper Guidance

If unsure of how to best keep your dental implants clean, it never hurts to ask your dentist, especially if there are signs of irritated gums or aggressive brushing. Dental implants can be costly to replace and you’ll want to keep them in good condition for as long as possible. 

We at Bellevue aim to help all our patients improve their smiles and work with them to ensure that the price doesn’t prevent them from the smiles they deserve. If you’re searching for a dentist in Bellevue to help restore your smile with dental implants, look no further than the team at Bellevue Dentist.

Dr. Siamak Najafi is an accomplished dentist who has trained with the world’s leading dental pioneers. These days he teaches dentists from all over the world how to enhance the health and appearance of their patients’ smiles through state-of-the-art dentistry services.

Dr. Don Jayne is a nationally recognized leader in dentistry. He focuses on providing unparalleled expertise in cosmetic, general, implant, and sedation dentistry. He is dedicated to providing you with the most advanced techniques and effective technology available in dental care. Click below for more information.

Bellevue Dentist

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What is the SSA Work History ReportWhat is the SSA Work History Report

June 4, 2024June 4, 2024| Eileen VargasEileen Vargas| 0 Comment | 12:00 am

The SSA Work History Report (Form SSA-3369) allows claimants to list all jobs they held for the last 15 years before they could not work due to illnesses, conditions, or injuries.

The SSA Work History Reports help the Disability Determination Services (DDS) to understand how your illnesses, conditions, or injuries prevent you from being able to perform your past relevant work.

Through this form, the SSA (Social Security Administration) determines what jobs you can do and whether your options are limited enough for you to qualify for benefits.

How Your Work History Impacts Your SSDI and SSI Claims

If you’re 49 years old or younger, the work history report is less crucial to the SSA’s decision to grant you disability benefits. At said ages, the administration may only use the report to identify other occupations you can do with your transferable skills.

But if you’re aged 50 and above, the work history report becomes important in proving your disability and receiving your benefits. In said age range, you are considered under the GRID rules.

The vocational GRID rules are based on your work history report. If you stated that your job as a janitor involved mostly sitting down when, in fact, you were on your feet all day, this could potentially preclude you from disability benefits.

How Your Work History Impacts Your SSDI and SSI Claims

Skill transferability becomes an issue as SSA must determine jobs using the same tools, work processes, and industry as those used in your relevant past work experience.

SSA may struggle to transition you to other vocations when you’re 50-55 years old as you’re “Approaching Advanced Age” under GRID rules. If you’re above 55 years old, SSA may only offer you jobs you can do that are sedentary work with no transferable skills.

SSA has two goals when reviewing your work history report:

  • Determine jobs you can still do despite your illnesses, conditions, and injuries.
  • Determine if your job options are limited enough that you qualify for disability benefits.

Therefore, your goals upon filling out your work history report are:

  • List out your transferable skills for the last 15 years before the date of your disability to avoid getting unskilled, dead-end jobs.
  • Give a clear picture of the nature of your past jobs of the said 15 years to prove why you can no longer do them due to your disability.

The Importance of Employment Information Accuracy in Your Work History Report

SSA will use whatever you include in this form about your past work. People often make errors filling out this form, and DDS can then use their own answers against them, affecting their chances of getting SSDI and SSI benefits.

For example, a person could list jobs beyond the last 15 years or fill out the form like a job application, bolstering their old positions. SSA can use the faulty information to deny them disability benefits and prove they can return to their old jobs.

Tips for Filling Out SSA’s Work History Report Form

Here are some fast tips on filling out your work history report as accurately as possible:

  • Use your old W2 forms to help you remember your job history and how much you made with them within the 15 years before your disability.
  • Never write your job title; write the job that you did. For example, if your Professional title is production associate who assembles air conditioners, you can write “air conditioner assembler” to fully show the nature of your work.
  • This is not the time to make yourself look better. For example, if you’re a salesman in a shoe store, you may want to write it down as manager. This will only make DDS mistake you for employment skills that you don’t have and may list down work that you can do that requires managerial skills.
  • A job is a job, even a part-time one, that lasts more than six months, and your earnings from it are above the substantial gainful activity.
  • Every job requires lifting, even office jobs, which occasionally require lifting boxes of papers. Include what objects you have lifted in your job description, and search the web for how heavy they are.
  • Never leave a question unanswered. If the question doesn’t apply to you, write “n/a” for not applicable. If you’re unsure about the answer, simply write “unsure.” This way, your submission will not be marked as incomplete.

Benefits of Working with a Social Security Disability Representative

Doing government paperwork can be daunting. Most people would rather be done with it as soon as possible. However, completing the Work History Report is one of the most crucial documents to submit. While SSA can learn about your health from your medical records, their only reporting about your work history is you.

If you do it right, it works to your advantage. If not, your work history report can work against you.

Having a Social Security Attorney by your side can increase your chances of getting viable job options and claiming SSI and SSDI benefits.

Let Us Help You: No Benefits, No Fee

Are you seeking assistance with your SSA Work History Report in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, or California? Look no further than the Marken Law Group. Our team will guide you through the complexities of SSA Work History Report-related matters and act as your representative. We don’t charge you unless we successfully secure the benefits you’re entitled to.

Ready to make your Work History Report more manageable? Schedule a free consultation with us today.

Marken Law Group | SSA Work History Report

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