Today’s dental implants are one of the best replacement options for missing natural teeth. Although they are the most stable tooth replacements we have today for missing natural teeth, patients need to understand that dental implant replacement teeth need to be cared for in a very specific way because they are not exactly the same as natural teeth. We explain to our patients that dental implants are a prosthetic, similar to a hip or knee replacement and require specific routine maintenance in order to provide long-lasting function in the harsh environment we call our mouth.