Dental Implant Moving
Dental implants are an increasingly popular choice for people that need to replace one or more missing teeth. Because they are placed directly into the jawbone, dental implants are designed to remain firmly in place and not move. Despite having success rates up to 98% and the potential to last for life, dental implants can come loose over time. Read on to learn more about the different things that can lead to dental implants loosening and what to do should this occur.
Why A Dental Implant Shouldn’t Move
If helps to understand a bit how natural teeth work before addressing why a dental implant can move when it shouldn’t. It often comes as a surprise when people learn that their natural teeth actually shift in place some when chewing. This is due to the teeth being attached to a piece of stretchy tissue called the periodontal ligament. The tissue grants the teeth some slight mobility but movement in excess of a hundredth of an inch is often a sign of periodontal (gum) disease and should be addressed.
Dental implants have no attachment to the periodontal ligament and instead, are secured directly into the jawbone. After placement, the dental implants begin fusing with the jawbone and once complete, should not move at all. If movement occurs, it signals some type of implant failure and patients are advised to seek out their dentist to address the issue. The failure could be due to a structural defect with the implant itself or an issue with the patient’s jawbone.
Symptoms of a Loose Dental Implant
A patient could have a loose dental implant if they notice any of the following symptoms:
- Gum pain
- The implant can be felt moving
- Swelling in the gums around the implant
- Bleeding around the implant
- Trouble biting down or properly chewing
- An infection
- Bone loss
- The implant comes out completely
What if Unable to Quickly Visit a Dentist?
While it is recommended to address a loose dental implant by visiting a dentist withing 48 hours, this is not always possible. If unable to visit a dentist within a couple days, patients should adhere to a diet of soft foods and chew carefully to avoid further damaging the area. Critically, patients should not try to fix a loose implant themselves as this can create additional issues or break additional implant components.
Should an implant start to loosen, patients are wise to avoid rocking it with their fingers or tongue in an attempt to move it back in place. Rocking the implant places additional pressure on the jawbone the implant attaches to and can cause damage to the tissue. This will lead to further instability. And a loose implant should never be pulled out by the patient as this will lead to a host of other dental issues.
If the patient is experiencing pain from a loose implant, ice packs can be applied to the affected area to manage tissue swelling and inflammation around the implant. Pain relievers such as ibuprofen, can also be taken to manage any discomfort. And proper oral hygiene should continue to be maintained to prevent periodontal disease, peri implantitis, and loss of bone around the implant.
What Causes a Dental Implant to Move?
If a patient notices their dental implant begins to loosen, they should not panic. Often, the implant can be fixed and is rarely an emergency. There are a few typical causes of implant loosening and how the situation is treated, depends on the underlying issue.
The Abutment Comes Loose
The piece that connects the implant post to the dental crown, called the abutment, can sometimes come loose. Should this occur, the dentist will drill a hole into the crown so that they can access the abutment. Certain dental implant systems are crafted with pre-existing holes that have filling materials covering them. Typically, it only takes about 10 minutes to tighten a loose abutment.
If a patient is in the initial recovery stage of their implant procedure, the healing cap can come off. Should this happen, the patient should promptly seek treatment to prevent the gum tissue from growing over the implant.
The Metal Fractures from Chewing Forces
In rare cases, the abutment or dental crown can break. Even though they are made of metal, chewing forces can cause the dental implant components to fracture. If either the abutment or crown breaks, the issue is fairly simple to fix but can be somewhat expensive. Often, a replacement abutment and crown can be crafted and placed on the dental implant within a matter of weeks. Unfortunately, if the implant post itself breaks, it cannot be saved and will have to be removed so that a replacement implant can be placed.
The Dental Implant Post Comes Loose
Since dental implants are designed to be strong and immobile, when a patient believes their implant is coming loose, it is often the dental crown instead of the implant post. However, in the rare case where the implant post comes loose, it is a serious issue.
Over the course of 5-20 years, dental implants can start to loosen from chewing forces. The implant abutment will often come out and require re-tightening. If this continues to happen repeatedly, a new crown or further treatment could be warranted.
Implant Failure
When dental implants come loose and fail, it typically is due to insufficient bone support. To address this, the affected implant is typically removed, and bone is grafted in its place. Unfortunately, a loose implant cannot be saved but it may be possible to place another in the future.
Discomfort is a common sign of implant failure. Once placed, there should be no bleeding, gum swelling, or pain around implants as these are all symptoms of an infection. If the patient experiences any symptoms, the dentist will recommend they promptly begin a course of antibiotics to combat the infection. Certain cases may require removing the implant, performing a bone graft, and placing a new implant a few months later after the area has healed.