Dental implants are the best tooth replacements around, but even they aren’t perfect. These posts can sometimes loosen and fail over time, putting your restored smile in great danger. You’ll need to take the proper steps if that happens to protect your long-term oral health. As for what that looks like, don’t worry; your local Mesquite dentist will explain things. Here’s a primer on how to act when responding to a loose dental implant.
What Causes Loose Dental Implants?
For starters, consider why your implant is loose in the first place. You’ll then have a better grasp of what to do about it.
Most cases of loose dental implants are caused by:
- A Damaged Restoration – Your dental implant will only work when connected to a denture, dental bridge, or dental crown. Its top could start feeling loose if any of these restorations get damaged.
- An “Overload” – If it’s put under too much pressure, a freshly-placed implant post won’t fuse with your jaw correctly. This unstable fusion could then trigger implant looseness.
- Peri-Implantitis – Sometimes, bacteria can infect the gums supporting a dental implant. The resulting infection can then loosen your new “tooth.”
- Failed Osseointegration – A dental implant is only stable when enough bone tissue grows around it. If the jaw doesn’t produce the right amount of bone, the implant post will feel loose.
Why are Loose Implants Dangerous?
While a loose dental implant may seem harmless, it’s anything but. This unstable restoration could threaten your treatment results and oral health.
You see, loose dental implants have a high risk of failure. Those that stem from infections can stop working as bacteria destroy your gum and jaw tissues. On the other hand, implants that loosen from poor fusion can point to an eroding jaw – a major cause of implant failure.
Loose dental implants are also less effective, even when they remain functional. Using them leads to eating and speaking issues, which in turn reduce your quality of life.
What Should You Do About Them?
If your dental implant feels loose, quickly schedule a visit with your dentist. They’ll examine the post and suggest potential treatment options.
When only the crown or abutment is loose, a dentist can just replace that part. Unscrewing or detaching the old one is a pretty simple task, and a lab can make a proper replacement. The dentist would just have you wear a temporary restoration while waiting for the final one.
For implants that are loose at the base, dentists will advise complete replacement. That’s the only way to set a new and secure implant post. In fact, you may also require a bone graft after the removal.
You shouldn’t ignore a loose dental implant, so consult your dental provider if you notice one. They can make sure your smile remains restored!
About the Practice
TrueCare Dentistry is based in Mesquite, TX, adjacent to Cartwright Pocket Park. Led by Dr. Rana, our practice is always ready and eager to help our patients smile. We thus offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative oral care, as well as dental emergency treatments. Our team can also (re)place dental implants entirely in-office! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (469)-399-7288.