American College of Prosthodontists issues guidelines on maintaining tooth-borne and implant-borne dental restorations

Patients with dental restorations such as crowns, bridges and veneers that are supported by natural teeth, as well as those with restorations supported by implants, can keep their teeth healthy with careful lifelong maintenance.

Using the best level of available evidence, the American College of Prosthodontists, working with the American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, and American Dental Hygienists Association, recently published the first clinical practice guidelines for patients and dental professionals as they care for tooth-borne and implant-borne restorations.

"Patients with multiple restorations that are supported by natural teeth or implants need to know that professional and at-home maintenance is a lifelong regimen," said Dr. Avinash Bidra, lead author of the guidelines, which are published in the Journal of Prosthodontics. "We are telling professionals what guidelines to follow and what to tell patients for at-home maintenance."