Dental Implant Problems

June 04, 2019, Soho Smile

When you have your dental implants put in place at Sohosmile, you don’t have to worry about dental implant complications. But dental implant problems like peri-implantitis do sometimes occur. Peri-implantitis is a dental implant infection that’s treatable, but it’s best to catch it early. If your implants are giving you any trouble or causing any pain, visit Dr. John for an assessment.

When you have gaps in your smile because of a previous tooth extraction or an injury, dental implants can correct the problem and improve your smile. A dental implant is an artificial tooth root inserted into your jaw to serve as a holder for a replacement tooth or bridge. Dental implant foundations are made with titanium, which is lightweight, strong and readily accepted by your body.

While this type of functional and cosmetic dental procedure is common today, dental implant problems can still happen. As with any type of surgery, you face potential health risks from the implant surgery. While risks are rare and easily treated, you need to be aware of the potential for dental implant complications.

Reasons for Dental Implants

Dental implants are gaining popularity in Manhattan for a reason: they are a permanent replacement for missing teeth. They also keep the rest of your teeth from moving, which maintains your bite. Implants stimulate your jawbone like tooth roots do, eliminating or reducing the amount of bone deterioration that often accompanies missing teeth.

Dental implants are the preferred alternative to dentures, as dentures don’t preserve your jawbone. Underneath the dentures, there’s no tooth root to engage the bone. Implants preserve your appearance while avoiding the numerous complications from dentures, such as improper fit, food limitations, mouth sores and sunken lips. Titanium is the best material to use for dental implants — and the only material used at Sohosmile.

Dental Implant Complications

Dental implant surgery is a common procedure that’s largely completed without any adverse side effects. Still, dental implant complications can happen, although less than five percent of the time. Peri-implantitis is one of the complications. It’s an infectious disease that causes inflammation of your gums and bone structure around the dental implant.

Implants are made to last your entire life, but peri-implantitis leads to bone disintegration and earlier-than-expected loss of the implants and the prostheses that support them. Your risk of getting peri-implantitis increases if you smoke, are over age 65 or have diabetes. Dental implant complications of peri-implantitis include symptoms such as:

Bleeding from your gums
Loss of bone around the dental implant site
Red and swollen mucous membranes
The formation of pus
Pain around a loose implant

Indications of a Dental Implant Infection

A dental implant infection happens because of bacteria forming after the implant procedure — either immediately or in the months or years afterward. Signs that your dental implant is infected include:

Foul taste or foul-smelling breath
Pain from the implant area or fever after the implant is placed
Problems or pain while chewing
Pus or bleeding from your gums at the site of the implant
A wobbly or loose implant
If any of these symptoms apply to you, contact your dentist right away to schedule an appointment to discuss your treatment options. Dr. John Koutsoyiannis at Sohosmile knows what to look for and how to determine if there is a problem.

Treatment Options for Dental Implant Problems

The appropriate treatment depends on the severity of the infection and how long you waited to report your dental implant problems. Dental surgery is sometimes an option to replace the implants, but that can be another months-long procedure while you heal. If you’re opposed to surgery, you have non-surgical treatment options as well.

Ultimately, the goal is to stop the disease from progressing and keep the implant site intact. The origin of the infection helps Dr. John determine how to treat it. If the infection occurred due to bacteria, corrective treatment options include:

Mechanical debridement or physically cleaning the implant
Systemic or localized antimicrobial therapy to disinfect the area
Improving your oral hygiene practices
If your bite mechanics are affected or your implant seems to be improperly placed, treatment options may involve:

Correcting the fit of the prosthesis
Conducting an occlusal evaluation to adjust your bite
Verifying the number and position of implants
Determining if enough bone existed at the site of the implant at the time of the procedure
Treating it as a surgical trauma

The Best Dental Care in Manhattan

Trust Dr. John of Sohosmile to resolve your dental implant complications in the most thorough way possible. A cosmetic dentist with a passion for keeping you healthy, Dr. John serves patients from every neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, including:

SoHo
Downtown NYC
The Financial District
Battery Park City
Greenwich Village
Tribeca
NoHo
Hudson Square
South Village
West Village
Nolita

More info: https://www.sohosmile.com/implant-dentistry/dental-implant-problems/

Soho Smile
206 Spring Street, 5th Floor,
New York, New York 10012
+1 212-334-7330

https://www.sohosmile.com

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