Can a Loose Dental Implant Be Saved?
Whether you’re missing a single tooth or multiple teeth, dental implants are your smile’s trusty sidekick.
Not only do dental implants help fill in those unsightly gaps in your smile, but they also give you your mojo back, allowing you to flash your pearly whites and indulge in your favourite meals.
Even though dental implants are a highly reliable tooth replacement solution with success rates of more than 90%, there are instances where you may find yourself dealing with a loose implant.
However, in most instances, it’s not the implant itself that’s the culprit. Instead, issues such as gum disease, infections and bone loss could be at play.
Just because you’ve got a loose dental implant doesn’t mean it’s game over for your smile and confidence. So don’t worry! With the proper care and some expert help from our team, you can restore your stunning smile!
What Is a Loose Dental Implant?
Dental implants are all about stability. Once fused with the bone, a healthy implant stays stable and provides a secure foundation for your new prosthetic tooth to sit on. Due to this, a loose dental implant that has noticeable movement around the implant site may seem concerning.
So what’s the good news? A loose implant doesn’t mean it’s game over. When you’re suffering from a dislodged implant, be sure to schedule an appointment with us right away because early intervention can nip the problem in the bud! Depending on the cause, we will either repair or swap your implant, restoring your smile effectively.
What Causes a Loose Dental Implant?
There are several reasons why your dental implant may feel loose, such as:
Peri-Implantitis
Your dental implants need the same TLC your teeth do. If you take good care of your implants and maintain a proper and correct oral hygiene routine, your implants stand a chance to last even a lifetime.
However, if you neglect oral hygiene, you might find yourself in a tough spot – dealing with problems such as peri-implantitis – a form of gum disease that affects the gum and bone around the implant. As this condition progresses, it can loosen your implant and damage the surrounding gums and bone.
Loose Crown
Sometimes, it’s not the implant itself that becomes loose – it could even be the dental crown attached to your implant. If your crown feels wobbly, it can give the impression that the entire implant is loose.
Can the crown be saved? Yes, make a quick trip to our clinic and we’ll tighten the crown for you. If that won’t solve the issue, we will swap the existing crown for a new one, ensuring it’s stable and secure.
Loose Abutment
The abutment, a small attachment, plays a big role in securing your dental prosthesis to your implant. If it starts to unscrew, you might feel like your whole implant is loose.
Fortunately for you, fixing a loose abutment and restoring stability to the implant is typically a straightforward and relatively easy task.
Excessive Force or Pressure
Whether you’re grinding and clenching your teeth or you’ve taken a hit to your mouth or face, excessive force or pressure can cause your implant to loosen.
Failed Osseointegration
Osseointegration is the process where the dental implant post-fuses with your jawbone to provide a stable base for the prosthetic tooth.
Sometimes, this integration between the implant and the jawbone may not happen properly. As a result, your implant may begin to feel loose and may fail within the first year of having it placed.
Reasons for osseointegration failure include;
- Allergic reactions to the implant
- Mishaps during the implant surgery
- Insufficient bone density
- Lack of proper care during the healing period, like moving the implant around or pushing it with your fingers or tongue.
Poor Quality Dental Implants
Not all dental implants and implant materials are the same. If your dental implants are of poor quality, they are more likely to loosen over time. That’s why we offer top-quality dental implants made from premium materials from trusted brands like Nobel Biocare and Nexus Osteon at Brisbane Implants.
What Should I Do If My Implant Feels Loose?
If you’ve got a wobbly dental implant on your hands, it’s time to take action. Here are the dos and don'ts of dealing with a loose implant:
- Keep your hands off your implant. Avoid poking or prodding the implant with your fingers or tongue.
- Trying to remove a loose implant by yourself is a recipe for disaster. Leave it in the hands of our team to take care of it safely and effectively.
- Avoid putting excessive pressure on your loose implant by steering clear of hard or sticky foods that could loosen the implant further.
- Keep up your oral hygiene routine, but take it easy around the implant area.
- Schedule an emergency appointment with one of our experienced implant dentists right away!
Addressing a loose dental implant promptly is crucial for ensuring the best possible outcome. So, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team for expert care and treatment. We can restore stability and comfort to your smile.
Can Loose Dental Implants Be Fixed?
So, can your loose dental implant be saved?
In most cases, our experienced dental professionals can repair and fix loose implants.
When you visit us with a loose implant, we will first get to the root of the problem. Once we’ve nailed down the cause – whether it’s an issue with the implant itself, an infection or bone loss – we will patch things up effectively with a customised treatment plan.
This may involve tightening the implant, performing a bone graft, or adjusting your prosthetic tooth. And if push comes to shove, we will replace your loose implant with a new one. If repairing the implant doesn’t work, we will replace the loose implant with a new one to ensure a stable and long-lasting solution.
Is the dental implant feeling loose? Visit us at Brisbane Implants, where restoring smiles and confidence is our specialty. Conveniently located in the heart of Sherwood, we are here to put that spring back in your step and smile.
