Dental implants are long-term and strong devices that are used to replace one or many teeth that have been lost. And, while most implants can remain intake and secure for a lifetime, others may fail. The good news is that implants can often be replaced even if they do fail, but you need to see your dental professional as soon as possible when you see signs of failure. Keep reading to learn about a few of the signs.

Loose Tooth

Loose implants are a significant and serious sign of dental implant failure. And, you are likely to notice a small wiggle and slight movement before you notice more substantial shifts in the artificial tooth. The vast majority of issues are caused by bone loss. You may remember that bone growth problems and osseointegration are concerns when you first received your implant device. Failed osseointegration can lead to a dislodged implant, and the same is true if the bone breaks down around the implant after the bone has already healed.

An issue called peri-implantitis is also associated with loose implant devices. This condition involves the inflammation, swelling, and infection of both the soft and hard tissues around the implant root. Peri-implantitis causes bone loss issues just like general or typical bone loss, but the problem often needs to be treated aggressively with antibiotics before a new implant can be secured.

Gum Recession

When a dental implant goes through the healing process, both hard and soft tissues are repaired. The gums develop what is called keratinized tissue. This strong, dense, and tough tissue creates a strong barrier around the implant device, much like the gums do around your natural teeth.

If these gums become infected with bacteria or are injured, they will start to recede. Receding gums mean an unhealthy region in the mouth where the dental implant and jaw bone may become exposed.

Gum recession can lead to the need for gum grafts and this is often the best approach to avoiding implant rejection. Sometimes grafting is not necessary and you will simply need some deep cleaning, antimicrobial rinses, or other gum treatments to ensure that the gums can heal and grow back on your own.

Oftentimes, more conservative treatments are used to try to encourage gum heal, so speak with your dentist about the options that are available to you before grafting is attempted.

If you want to know more about dental implants, failure, and how you can spot signs of rejection, speak with implant professionals like those at clinics like Dental Implant & Cosmetic, PC.

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