Among the choices for tooth replacement, dental implants in Burke appeal the most to patients. Natural-looking and convenient to clean and maintain, they also have a very high success rate — around 95 percent, according to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Nonetheless, there’s still a chance for dental implants to fail and loosen, and it can happen weeks after the operation or even several years after.
Why Dental Implants Loosen
There are different reasons why dental implants lose their hold on our gums. Know about the most common culprits below:
Loose dental crown. Dental crown pertains to the tooth-shaped cap that protects the natural tooth. Dental implants also have this. If this part is loose, your dentist can either screw it tighter or have it entirely replaced.
Bone loss. This is a common sign of dental implant surgery failure. It could also mean that your implant hasn’t successfully completed the so-called osseointegration period.
Gum diseases. There are certain gum diseases that are linked with dental implants, the most common of which is peri-implantitis. This condition can weaken your gum and subsequently affect your implant.
Bruxism or teeth grinding. Occasional clenching of the teeth weakens them over time. If you have a dental implant, this habit can make it loosen or even fall off.
Improper local hygiene. If you don’t take proper care of your teeth, you have a high risk of developing bacterial infection, which in turns weaken your gums.
Getting hit on your face (mouth and jaw area). The loosening of dental implants can also be caused by external factors. If you fell on your face or you’re mouth and jaw area have been hit hard, it can negatively affect your implants.
Why It Matters to Get Them Fixed
If you’ve recently gotten dental implants in Burke and you notice that one or more of them are moving inside your mouth, you should not waste time and book an appointment with your dentist as soon as you can. Having a loose dental implant is also often accompanied by pain, bleeding, and discoloration around the affected area.
If not immediately fixed, the very least that could happen is you lose one or more teeth. On a more serious level, this dental concern can trigger an infection that can affect your whole mouth and jaw area — or worse, spread into your brain and neck. It can also lead to sepsis that infects one’s blood.
Treating Loose Dental Implants
Having loose dental implants in Burke is a very important concern. As mentioned above — it needs immediate medical attention. Don’t neglect this matter and have your mouth x-rayed by your dentist. Through this procedure, coupled with physical examinations, your dentist can know and thoroughly examine your situation.
If diagnosed in its early stages, your dentist can still save your implant. But if it has become too unstable, you’d need to undergo implant revision surgery. In either case, the primary step is to remove the dental crown, clean, and inspect the affected area.
If you are considering getting dental implants in Burke, contact our team at Northern Virginia Oral, Maxillofacial & Implant Surgery. Let us help give you back that perfect smile.
