Dental implants are a permanent replacement for your missing or damaged teeth. Installing dental implants is a surgical procedure that requires some time for healing afterwards and can cause some discomfort to the patient. Thus, naturally, we want our dental implants to be secure and functional as they are meant to be. Below, we cover how to fix loose dental implants.

How to Fix Loose Dental Implants

There are cases, however, when dental implants can become loose due to different factors. However, this issue can be resolved, and in this article, we will explain how to fix loose dental implants.

How Is Dental Implant Placed in Your Mouth?

Typically, a dental implant is practically a special screw that is placed into the jawbone during surgery. This screw, also called a metal post, is placed in the hole drilled deep into the bone. It acts as a tooth root and supports dental restoration shaped like your natural tooth.

After placement, during the healing process, the metal post fuses with the bone, providing secure support for the dental crown or a dental bridge.

Why Dental Implants Might Become Loose?

As a matter of fact, a loose dental implant is not an uncommon problem. If your implants got loose, it does not necessarily mean that the dental procedure failed or was of bad quality. There are several reasons for this to happen, including:

• Insufficient bone support to hold the implant in place securely.
• Uneven bites can occur, for example, as we age. The uneven force applied to the implant can cause bone tissue loss around it. Sometimes, this can happen if the implant is not properly aligned with the opposing arch in the beginning.
• Infection or periodontal disease can also lead to loose dental implants. Infection can cause abscesses around the implant, destroying the supporting tissue. Gum disease also affects the tissue and bone that support the implant.
• Facial trauma or fractures in the jawbones might also lead to the instability of dental implants. In this case, your dental implant will have to be removed in a timely manner to avoid complications during healing.
• Dental implants might also become loose because of inadequate placement or insufficient healing.

In some cases, the problem is not caused by the loosening of the metal post itself but by the dental crown attached to it.

Signs of a Failed Dental Implant

When we are talking about failed dental implants, we mean that you might experience some of these issues:

• You feel that your tooth replacement solution is loose and not secure in its place.
• It is harder to chew
• Your gums around the implant are swollen, irritated, red, or inflamed
• Pain or discomfort in the area of the implant
• Gum recession

How to Fix a Loose Dental Implant?

As soon as you start experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, you should make an appointment with your general dentist. In most cases, immediate treatment is necessary, as putting it off might lead to health complications and more expensive procedures. Also, make sure not to chew on the side with a loose dental implant before you can see your dentist.

The way the issue is solved depends on its cause, which only your dentist can determine. If the problem is within the screw that failed to properly fuse with the bone, then it might need replacement or tightening. If the dental crown attached to the post came off, then it can be adjusted by recementing it properly.

In cases when the problem is caused by infections, gum disease, facial trauma, or insufficient bone support, your dental implant might have to be removed entirely.

How to Prevent Loosening of Dental Implants?

Some of the causes of loose dental implants can be prevented by taking proper care of your oral health and the implants themselves. There are some basic rules to follow:

• Make sure that your oral hygiene is sufficient to prevent oral infections and gum disease. Brush and floss your teeth thoroughly twice a day to remove food residue, bacteria and plaque from your mouth.
• Schedule professional cleaning appointments with a dental hygienist every 6 months to remove plaque that can not be removed during your at-home routine.
• Visit your dentist regularly for general oral health check ups to make sure that all possible issues are noticed and treated before they become a serious problem.
• Wear a mouthguard while playing sports with risk of trauma.
• Avoid physically damaging your implants. Do not use your teeth as tools or bite with force on hard food or objects.

If you have any concerns regarding your dental implants or need a consultation, do not hesitate to make an appointment at Jesmine Boghawala DDS today.