Infected Dental Implants
Roughly 70 percent of Americans between the ages of 35 to 44 have lost one or more permanent teeth. Whether the tooth was lost due to trauma, gum disease, or tooth decay, these patients could benefit from dental implants.
A relatively common and straightforward procedure, data shows that about 500,000 people undergo dental implant procedures annually in the United States with more than half of these procedures taking place in a dentist’s office. Although most implants are placed without issues, rare complications, side effects, and the development of infections are possibilities. This article will highlight the most common signs and symptoms of an infected dental implant along with what to do should be done to address them if experienced after surgery.
Most Common Signs of a Dental Implant Infection
- Difficult and Painful Chewing: As is the case with any invasive surgical procedure, some discomfort is normal following surgery but should be manageable with prescription or over-the-counter pain medication. Should pain spread, increase, or linger to the point it interferes with chewing or talking, it could signal an infection.
- Redness, Swelling, and Fever: Just like discomfort, some swelling around the surgical site is typical following implant surgery. Swelling should subside after a few days. Should swelling or redness increase or be accompanied by a fever, an infection is likely, and treatment should be sought as soon as possible.
- Continuous Foul Taste in the Mouth: Infected dental implants are often caused by the buildup of debris and harmful bacteria. As these remain on the gums and leak into the mouth, the patient may experience a persistent bad taste in their mouth that will not go away. This could also be accompanied by constant bad breath.
- Leaking Pus or Bleeding: In the presence of an infection, white and red blood cells flood the area to combat pathogens. When this occurs in gum tissue, it could result in blood and pus discharging into the mouth. If bleeding increases or persists beyond the initial few days following dental implant surgery, it is likely caused by an infection.
- Loose Implants: To prevent dental implants from coming loose, they are embedded directly into the patient’s jawbone. Once placed, the dental implants should remain stably in place for the remainder of the patient’s life. Should an implant loosen or begin to wiggle, it signals something went awry and another procedure may be required to fix it.
What Causes Dental Implant Infections?
Rather than a singular cause, it is often multiple factors working in conjunction that cause infected dental implants. Patients with underlying health conditions like cancer, periodontitis, or diabetes, are at an increased risk of poor healing. So that appropriate precautions can be taken, patients should discuss any of these conditions with their dentist ahead of time.
Loss of bone in the jaw can also contribute to problems. This can be due to using biphosphate medications for cancer, osteoporosis, or advanced periodontitis. While bone loss could be addressed with a bone grafting procedure prior to implant surgery, the risk of complications is still increased.