When cared for properly, dental implants can be a successful, permanent way to replace missing teeth. You should do your part in keeping your implants, natural teeth, and oral tissues clean at home, but you should also make sure to see your dentist regularly. Regular dental visits are even more important than usual with dental implants, which require healthy oral tissues to remain stable and sturdy. It’s also important to contact your dentist if you notice any signs that your dental implant might need to be fixed. These signs might include:
- Pain or discomfort, either persistent well after implant placement or arising much later
- A noticeably mobile or loose implant
- Inflammation or recession in the gums surrounding the implant
- Difficulty eating with the implant tooth
- A bad taste or smell in the mouth
- Noticeable damage to the implant post or restoration
It’s common to feel some pain shortly after implant placement, and discomfort or sensitivity could last a week or so – but if your pain persists uninterrupted for more than a couple of weeks, or if pain reappears after subsiding, see your dentist immediately. This could indicate infection around the implant, a loose implant post, a malfunctioning implant, or possibly loss of bone around the implant, and any of these things could be signs that an implant needs immediate professional attention.
When implants are placed properly, in well-healed bone, they should feel stable and sturdy, exactly like a healthy natural tooth; you shouldn’t be able to wiggle or move your implant under any circumstances. Implant mobility could indicate that the prosthetic tooth’s attachment abutment has been damaged, which might be an easy fix if the crown itself isn’t damaged, but it could also indicate bone loss around the implant or another issue with the implant itself. Sometimes, a damaged implant crown is more obvious if the crown itself cracks or wears down; this isn’t as urgent, and, if the oral tissues are still healthy, the crown can be replaced without requiring a new implant. In either case, early attention can make a big difference in comfort and the extent of damage.
In the oral tissues, swelling and redness often indicate infection. If the gums surrounding your implant appear swollen or red, or if the gum tissues bleed when you brush, this could be an indication of infection that is likely to lead to implant failure if ignored, and again, prompt dental intervention is needed. In fact, swelling or redness in any area of the gums, whether localized to the implant or not, could point to gum disease and should prompt a call to the dentist’s office; the implant might not be failing immediately, but healthy oral tissues must be maintained for an implant to succeed over the long term. Infection can also be characterized by a foul taste or smell in the mouth, pain near the implant, or a fever; any signs of infection require swift attention to prevent an avalanche of unpleasant outcomes.
Difficulty chewing or biting, particularly with the implant tooth, could indicate a damaged implant or an issue with the alignment of the implant. Even if this doesn’t bother you, you should see a dentist, as each imbalanced bite puts undue stress on the implant and could lead to a broken crown or, even worse, a failed implant if left unrepaired long enough. Implants can be adjusted, and abutments and attachments can loosen over time and should be checked, refitted, and tightened as needed.
The only way for you to know for certain if your implant needs to be repaired, adjusted, or replaced is to see your dentist regularly, and especially if you notice any signs that something’s wrong with your implant. Regardless of the cause of the issue with an implant or crown, early attention can prevent things from getting worse and help keep your implants in place and your oral tissues healthy and strong for the duration.
Related Article: Avoiding the Need to Fix Dental Implants