Dental implants are designed to be a reliable, long-lasting solution for tooth loss. They should stay sturdy and firm in your mouth for many years! But what if your implant starts to feel loose? You may be concerned, and rightly so. What should you do in such a situation? This blog post provides some helpful information.
Call Your Dentist
If you notice that your dental implant feels loose, the most important step you can take is to contact your dentist immediately. Delaying this can increase the risk of complications and may make the issue more difficult to resolve. Even if you are not experiencing pain or discomfort, a loose implant should be treated as a dental emergency.
When you call your dental office, describe your symptoms in detail. Mention when you first noticed the looseness, whether you feel any pain, swelling, or bleeding, and if the implant moves while eating or speaking. Providing as much information as possible will help your dentist prepare for your appointment and equip them to offer advice on what to do until you can be seen. For example, you might need to temporarily abstain from hard or chewy foods that could further loosen the implant.
Identifying the Problem
There are several reasons why a dental implant may feel loose. It is important to determine whether the problem involves the implant itself or the restoration attached to it.
- Loose Restoration: In many cases, what feels like a loose implant may actually be a loose crown, bridge, or denture attached to the implant. The restoration might have come unscrewed or the dental cement may have weakened over time. Although this can be annoying, it is usually not a particularly serious issue.
- Loose Implant: If the implant post (the titanium screw embedded in your jawbone) is loose, the situation is more complex. This can occur due to bone loss around the implant, infection, excessive force when biting or chewing, or failed osseointegration (the process by which the implant fuses with the bone). This is much more serious than a loose restoration and could lead to total dental implant failure in some situations.
Resolving the Issue
The best treatment for a loose implant depends on the details of the situation. Your dentist wants to stabilize your prosthetic tooth so you can get back to enjoying the many benefits it provides.
If the problem is simply a loose restoration:
- The dentist may simply tighten or re-cement the crown, bridge, or denture.
- If the restoration is damaged or worn, it might be replaced with a new one.
If the implant post is loose, treatment can be more complex. There are a few possible courses of action:
- If there is bone loss or infection, treatment may involve cleaning the area, treating any infection, and possibly bone grafting to restore lost bone tissue.
- If the implant has failed and cannot be salvaged, it will need to be removed. After the area has healed, your dentist will discuss options for placing a new implant or alternative tooth replacement solutions.
A loose dental implant should be evaluated as soon as possible! Get in touch with your dentist so they can provide appropriate care.
Meet the Practice
At Torrington Dental Care, we offer a broad range of services for our community, including start-to-finish dental implant treatment. We can also perform implant maintenance and, when necessary, salvage for failing implants. We handle each case with great compassion and attention to detail. To learn more about us or to request a consultation, contact our office at 860-259-4073.