Dental Implant Fell Out
How to Prevent Your Implant from Falling Out
When the dentist performed your dental implant procedure, a screw shaped post was implanted into your jawbone where it fused with the bone. The post was set to function as your replacement tooth’s root and it is supposed to be a permanent placement. The top of the post has an attachment where the false tooth is placed or an abutment for the crown. One of the major keys to success for dental implants is having a healthy jaw bone. The bone needs to be dense enough to hold the post and strong enough to fuse with the implant. When this process, called osseointegration, is completed correctly, the implant will remain sturdy and secure where the dentist placed it.
A part of the natural aging process includes a gradual loss of bone density. If you are looking to replace a missing tooth with a dental implant, the younger you are, the more likely you will be to have a successful implant procedure. If you are older and are looking to have a dental implant or already have one you want to keep healthy, vitamin supplements and other therapies are available to help you maintain your bone density.
A major reason for tooth loss in adults is gum disease and it is important to treat the gum disease before moving directly to a dental implant. The good news is there are plenty of actions you can take every day at home to improve your dental health and to maintain healthy gums after professional gum disease treatment. If the gum tissue is affected by gum disease, the gums will not have a proper blood supply to heal from the surgery. The inflammation of gum disease will prevent the gums from attaching to the implant so bacteria can’t settle in the gums on the implant itself.
Addressing gum disease and bone strength will help you have a better success rate for your implant procedure. After your implant procedure it is important to care for your implant the same way you care for your natural teeth. Brushing and flossing twice daily while maintaining twice yearly dental appointments for exams and cleanings will give your implant as well as your other teeth the best chance at lasting long term. By keeping your mouth free from gum disease and stopping any gum disease that is already present from progressing to serious periodontitis, you will prevent your gums from weakening. Weak gums are not able to support natural teeth or dental implants.
What to Do If an Implant Comes Out
If you are already at a place where the implant has fallen out of your mouth, do your best not to panic. If you remain calm, you will be able to make better decisions and enact the best possible treatment plan as soon as possible. It is scary and not part of your long term plan for your dental implant, but you can take the following steps to help the problem from getting worse:
- Save whatever pieces you can that fell out and bring them to the dentist. It will help the dentist determine what the next best steps are.
- Call the dentist right away. You may be able to get an appointment with the dentist who performed the procedure, but the dentist may need to suggest a different dentist.
- Avoid biting, chewing and putting pressure on the side or area where the implant was in your mouth.
- Rinse your mouth with an alcohol free mouthwash at least three times a day to prevent any infection from making the problem worse.
Depending on what part of the implant comes out and the reason for it, the implant is usually able to be reinserted. If the dental crown or the prosthetic tooth comes off the post, this is a very minor problem and the crown can be reattached if it is not damaged. If the abutment or the attachment for the crown that connects to the post, it can be replaced in many cases.
The most serious of the possibilities is when the post that sits in the gums is loose. This symptom is an indicator that you have experienced some bone loss or gum disease is present. If you catch the gum disease early enough and the dentist is able to treat and reverse it with cleanings and antibiotic treatments, then the implant may be able to be re-inserted.
The only way to know exactly what is causing the problem with your implant is an exam by a dentist. The dentist may need to use x-rays to see what is happening below your gum line so the dentist can offer you the best treatment options. If the implant is not able to be re-inserted, then the dentist will talk to you about the other tooth replacement options available.
Its important to remember that it is rare for dental implants to loosen or fall out. Even if you are one of the few people who have this issue, the source can be traced to either a problem with the implant placement or an underlying health problem.
The Signs to Watch Out For
If you are able to detect the dental implant loosening before it falls out, the dentist may be able to prevent the implant from falling out. Here are the signs to be aware of:
- New pain near your implant
- Bleeding when you touch the implant
- Changes in color of your gum tissue near the implant
- Noticeable bone loss
What happens if you don’t fix a loose dental implant right away?
It is costly to have a dental implant procedure the first time so some people may be concerned that to replace the implant may cost just as much or more. It is dangerous to ignore it or avoid going to the dentist. You could develop a serious infection or even sepsis, an infection that is in your bloodstream traveling throughout your body into your brain or heart. While this may seem dramatic, it is important to act quickly to prevent more serious issues and bigger costs.