What To Do If Your Dental Implants Become Loose?

Dental implants are metal prosthetics that function and look like natural teeth. Although dental implants are made to be durable, they can become loose because of peri-implantitis, loose dental implant crown, poor-quality materials, failed osseointegration, and loose abutment. When you feel that your dental implant loosened, you must immediately visit your dentist so that he can determine the cause and the best course of treatment for you.

Why Is My Dental Implant Loose?

A dental implant is securely placed in the jawbone making it a stable foundation for an artificial tooth. However, in some cases, there are 5 main causes that can cause a loose dental implant.

1. Peri-implantitis

The bone that supports the implant deteriorates and the peri-implant mucosa swells due to a bacterial infection known as peri-implantitis. The bacterial growth near the dental implant beneath the gum is the source of this infection. As a result, the dental implant can become loose.

2. Failed Osseointegration

Osteointegration is the process by which a dental implant integrates into your jawbone. A loose dental implant may be a result of a failed osseointegration. Failed osseointegration occurs commonly in patients who smoke, lack jawbone mass, or have medical problems.

3. Poor-Quality Materials

In some cases, Aa dentist may decide to use aftermarket components in order to reduce costs. This implies that it’s possible you won’t be able to get the aftermarket parts to fit correctly with the implant created by the manufacturer. This ultimately leads to a loose dental implant because the parts don’t properly fit with the implant.

4. Loose Dental Implant Crown

A dental implant crown is a prosthetic tooth that is affixed on a dental implant. A dental implant crown has similar durability as a natural tooth. There are cases where your tooth implant is still functional and the crown has loosened. Wear and tear, typically brought on by trauma or persistent tooth grinding, may result in slight shifting of the implant crown.

5. Loose Dental Implant Abutment

A dental implant abutment is a metal connector that is attached to your dental implant. The crown is firmly fixed in place by the abutment. Although rare, the implant abutment may start to disconnect from the tooth implant, causing it to become loose. A loose abutment typically doesn’t cause any discomfort or pain. A loose dental implant abutment is repairable without causing harm to the rod or crown. Abutments often become loose due to subpar materials, overload, improper placement, or trauma.

What Are the Signs of Loose Dental Implant?

Patients often can determine if their dental implants are loose by using their tongues or fingers. The most common symptoms of a loose dental implant are listed below.

• Micromovement of the artificial tooth
• Severe pain on the implant site
• Chewing or biting problems
• Inflammed gums
• Gum recession
• Bleeding on the implant site

Consult with a dentist immediately if you’re experiencing these symptoms. A clinical examination and an x-ray will be performed by your dentist to identify the cause. There is a possibility that the implant itself is not loose and that some other factor is causing these symptoms.

How To Fix Loose Dental Implant?

Avoid touching or moving the implant in any way when you first notice it becoming loose. You must also avoid eating near or brushing the implant site. See a dentist as soon as you realize that your dental implant is starting to become loose. This is so that your dentist can diagnose if there is an inflammation, infection, or if your tooth implant has become damaged. Your dentist will conduct a comprehensive oral examination by asking about your symptoms and performing an x-ray or CT scan to determine the primary cause of your loose dental implant. Based on the results, your dentist will be able to choose the best course of action for you. Dental implant failure, additional surgeries, and extra costs can all be avoided with early treatment. A loose dental implant increases the risk of further complications if left untreated and may need dental implant repair.

How Do I Prevent Loose Dental Implant?

You can do the following safety measures to reduce the possibility of a loose dental implant.

• Pick a knowledgeable implant dentist with several years of experience in dental implant surgery
• Seek treatment if you have gum disease prior to getting dental implants
• Follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions for dental implants
• Practice regular dental hygiene
• Maintain regular dental visits with your dentist
• Avoid eating hard foods too much