What To Do If Your Implant Is Loose

Dental implant treatments are becoming increasingly sophisticated, able to replace a greater number of missing teeth than ever before - allowing patients to restore their smile with a permanent dental solution that removes the need for traditional dentures, and restore multiple teeth with less need for repeated surgeries and other treatments. 7oaks Clinic implants can last a lifetime if dental hygiene and proper care for your new teeth is maintained - but sometimes dental implants can loosen, which can be a cause for concern. However, there are many different reasons for implants to become loose, whilst actual dental implant failure is very rare. 

What Causes A Loose Dental Implant?

A healthy dental implant will stay fixed and stable in the mouth as it is secured to the jawbone and should not move or wiggle. In most cases where patients are experiencing a loose implant, it comes from the artificial tooth that is attached to the implant - and is often caused by the impact of everyday wear and tear or a lack of proper maintenance.

Dental implant aftercare is vital in order to maximise the lifetime of your implants, as well as providing secondary benefits like caring for your remaining teeth and maintaining dental hygiene. Just like with natural teeth, to keep your dental implants healthy for life it’s important to properly clean them every day and see a dental professional regularly.

Dental implant patients must pay closer attention to flossing and brushing below the gum line in order to protect the bone structure that secures the implanted tooth in the mouth. Proper brushing also protects the tooth crown itself from chips and cracks. Lifestyle factors that increase your risk of gum disease, or other dental problems, should also be avoided to ensure that your implants last as long as possible.

Looseness in your dental implant could also be caused by bone loss - particularly if you have had your implants for a longer period of time. Bone loss can be caused by a number of things, including periodontal diseases, trauma, and problems with your sinuses caused by other missing teeth. If the issue is caused by bone loss, it is important to catch it early by visiting your dentist or dental implant specialist as soon as the implant tooth begins to feel loose. 

On very rare occasions, the dental implant surgery itself is not successful, leading to the feeling of loose implants. When this does occur, it is usually within the first few weeks after your dental implant surgery, and should be reported to your dental implant specialist as soon as you notice anything wrong. 

The warning signs for both early and late-stage dental implant failure can often be some of the following issues:

• Chewing becomes more difficult
• Gums around the implant site are inflamed
• Unusual gum recession
• Noticeable swelling around the implant site or gums
• Noticeable loosening or a slight wobble of the implant
• Discomfort or pain

If one of your implants is loose, then it’s best not to assume what the issue is. It’s important that, as soon as you notice that your dental implant is loose, you contact us to make an appointment with our team. 7oaks Clinic Advanced Dental Implant Care puts your safety and comfort at the forefront of the care we provide - for more information on dental implant treatments, what to do post-surgery, and long term aftercare of your dental implants, contact our expert team today.