Does Your Dental Implant Feel Loose? Here’s What to Do

Dental implants are, without question, considered the gold standard of tooth replacement. They give patients a smile that looks, feels, and acts just like their old one. Although they have a very high success rate of over 93%, a small percentage of patients will experience a loose dental implant or even failure. Do you know what to do in that situation? If not, don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. Read on to learn about the possible causes of a loose dental implant and what you should do in that situation.  

What Causes a Dental Implant to Loosen?

There are several reasons why your dental implant feels loose, including:

Failed Osseointegration

After dental implant placement, the titanium is supposed to fuse with the surrounding bone tissue via a natural process called osseointegration. It’s what helps create a strong physical bond. However, if the body’s healing ability is impaired or the implant is placed under undue pressure, osseointegration can fail to take place. Additionally, that can happen if the patient has an inadequate bone density or the implant wasn’t placed properly.

Infection

Peri-implantitis is another common cause of dental implant failure. Like gum disease, it can happen around natural teeth and is caused by bacteria attacking the gum tissue which supports the implant. In most cases, an infection is the result of poor oral hygiene and improper implant placement. Although it can happen during the surgery itself, it usually occurs months or years afterward.

Overloading

If a freshly placed dental implant is subject to excessive pressure, it can affect osseointegration. Typically, overloading happens when patients are receiving their artificial teeth at the time of implant placement. It can also happen when dental implants are disturbed during their healing period.

Poorly Made Prosthetics

Sometimes, prosthetics like dentures, bridges, and crowns can cause their supporting implants to become loose if they themselves are unstable. That usually happens because of cement or screws loosening, wear and tear, or poor fitting.

What to Do If Your Implant Loosens

Does your dental implant feel loose? Contact your dentist in Alexandria and make an appointment right away. During your visit, they’ll conduct an oral examination to determine whether the movement is being caused by the abutment or crown, rather than the actual implant. Since these problems can damage the implant, they must be addressed as soon as possible. Identifying and treating the issue early might make it possible to save the implant from failure. If your dental implant is the problem, early treatment might be able to save it, especially in cases where it’s caused by infection or gum recession. But if your implant has become loose due to severe infection, bone loss, facial trauma, or damage, it will likely need to be removed.

If you believe you have a loose dental implant, don’t hesitate to contact your dentist. They’ll identify the underlying cause, perform the appropriate treatment, and do everything possible to get your smile back to normal!

About the Practice

At Martinez Dentistry, we provide comprehensive, exceptional, high-quality dental services unlike anything else. Our team uses the latest technologies and techniques to ensure patients receive the best treatment possible. If you have a loose dental implant, don’t hesitate to contact our team – we’ll get your problem fixed in no time. Visit our website or call (765) 724-7729.