Broken dental implants can have inconvenient and undesirable consequences for the total health of a patient and should be rectified as quickly as possible. Below, we cover what to do with a broken dental implant.

Although dental implants are generally quite durable, they are susceptible to damage and breakage, especially when subjected to intense activities and impact.

What to Do With a Broken Dental Implant

If you have a dental implant that you’re trying to preserve or are simply interested in learning more about how to preserve your implant, take a look at this overview of what to do when disaster strikes and you have to deal with this unfortunate situation.

What Is a Dental Implant?

Dental implants are a popular orthodontic option for many patients, as they replace broken or decayed teeth with synthetic implants that look quite similar to the original article.

Dental implants are quite durable and have the potential to last for quite some time if properly cared for. A successful dental implant can be performed on one or several teeth, and give a patient fabulous results that can stick for many years.

Some of the benefits of dental implants include how they:

• Look, feel, and function exactly like normal teeth
• Are durable and long lasting
• Are customizable to match the appearance of your pre-existing teeth
• Don’t restrict your diet or lifestyle.
• Are easily cleaned and maintained

With benefits like these, there’s no reason not to receive implants should you qualify for treatment. This type of dental work is easy, affordable, and tenacious.

How Do Implants Break?

A dental implant is made of three main parts, each of which is essential to preserving its overall integrity. The three pieces of an implant are the abutment, crown, and the implant itself.

The two pieces most vulnerable to damage are the crown, which is the top of the implant, and the abutment, which connects the crown and the implant. Still, many crowns are made out of zirconia or porcelain, fragile materials that can be easily destroyed.

Oftentimes, the culprit behind a broken implant is some kind of strong trauma or impact. High-intensity sports such as boxing or football come to mind, as these activities can involve high amounts of force being directed toward the head and mouth.

Broken Dental Implant Repair

There are two major options for getting a mildly broken dental implant fixed: repair or replacement. Much of what is decided will have to do with the level of damage that has been inflicted on your personal implants, as well as which part of your implants have been damaged.

In the case of the abutment, it’s typically quite simple to replace and will likely be easily done. Replacing or repairing the crown of an implant is a slightly more complicated process, one that can involve some medical magic from your physician.

A more seriously broken implant can be a bit of a headache for both parties as well. It likely will involve a total replacement of your implant, which can be costly. Your physician will also inspect your jaw area for damage in the case of impact trauma to this area of the body. In the case that there is damage to the jaw or surrounding area of the mouth, further medical treatment might be warranted.

Self-Care for You and Your Implant

As soon as you suspect that you might have a broken or damaged implant, it behooves you to contact your physician and inform them of the potential damage. This can help them give you the proper information you’ll need to move forward with treatment.

There are a number of steps that you can take in order to aid your physician in the repair process. Some of these include:

• Gathering all of the broken pieces of your implant and placing them in one container or case.
• Immediately call your dentist to schedule an appointment to have your implant repaired or replaced
• Think about applying a cold compress to your implant area if you’re experiencing severe discomfort or pain

Dental implants can last for a lifetime if cared for properly. Keeping this in mind when performing daily activities can give you an edge on maintaining proper dental health.

The Dental Implant Experts of Cerritos

Jesmine Boghawala DDS Clinic prides itself on offering the residents of Cerritos and Southern California the best treatment available for dental implants. Interested in scheduling a consultation with our general dentist to resolve some dental implant damage you’ve incurred? Or do would you like to learn more about implants in general? Then schedule a consultation with us today.