When Your Dental Implant Needs Attention

Dental implants are an amazing example of modern cosmetic dentistry. In most cases, they are meant to last a lifetime and provide patients with a carefree alternative to dentures or bridges. While most people very seldom experience issues with their implant, it's a good idea to know what might happen and how to handle it when things go wrong. Read on to find out more.

Signs That Should Trigger a Phone Call

If you notice any of the below signs of problems with your implant, phone your dentist right away. Many implant issues can be alleviated quickly as long as you deal with it in a timely manner. Implants can take a long time to fully heal (several months) and graft onto your jaw bone and it is not unusual for patients to experience a few minor issues from time to time.

1. Loose implants – In some cases, an implant fails to bond properly with the bone if the jaw. Loose implants can cause a more serious problem than you might think, however, and should be addressed by your dentist right away. A loose implant can allow bacteria to enter the gum and cause an infection. This requires an evaluation of why the implant is loose and the use of antibiotics to deal with the infection. In many cases, patients have problems with implants becoming loose when the implant is not able to properly attach to the jaw bone. Poor bone density should be addressed before the implantation by using bone grafts. There is always the possibility, however, that the bones in your jaw will become unstable at some point after the implantation process causing the implant to become loose.
2. Sinus problems – Implants attached to the upper jaw area are very close to your sinus cavity. That can mean sinus pain that should be eliminated by adjusting the part of the implant that goes into your bone.
3. Pain with eating – In some cases, the new tooth is not properly sized and it creates problems with your bite. Often, this issue can be addressed with some re-shaping of the implant to be more comfortable.
4. Pain or other problematic signs – Implants are not supposed to hurt once the initial healing period has come and gone, which may last anywhere from 7 to 10 days. If you are a month or more away from the final implantation appointment and experience pain, tingling, or numbness, call your dentist. Though it's rare, the implant process can trigger nerve or tissue damage.

The sooner you speak to your dentist about any of the above issues, the greater the chance of saving your implant and making things right again.

For more assistance, you will want to contact a place such as Naas Family Dentistry.