How Do I Know If My Dental Implants Are Infected? | Ear, Nose, Throat, and Dental problems articles | Body & Health Conditions center

Dental implants are the most advanced way to replace missing teeth. Dental implant treatment involves placing a metal screw, usually made of titanium, inside your jaw bone. Once the implant has fused with the surrounding bone, a dental crown is attached to it and the missing tooth's functionality and aesthetics are restored.

Dental implants are immune to degradation by decay, since the bacteria are not capable of breaking down titanium. However, they do pose a a risk for gum infection, which can eventually destroy the bone around the implant.

Why do dental implants get infected?

Implants usually get infected when bacteria proliferate in the gums around the implant. This bacterial proliferation leads to infection and swelling of the gums around the implant, known as peri-implantitis.

Peri-implantitis leads to the destruction of the gums and the bone around the implant, reducing support and eventually causing it to loosen. One of the primary causes of peri-implantitis is a lack of proper oral hygiene on the part of the patient.

Harmful habits like smoking have also been associated with an increase in peri-implantitis as well as eventual implant failure. Smoking reduces blood flow in the gums, which directly decreases the body's capability to fight the bacteria. This can, over a period of time, lead to gum infections.

Other common reasons for infected gums around dental implants include increased blood glucose levels (as seen in poorly controlled diabetic patients), immunocompromised patients, improper sterilization and disinfection prior to implant surgery, faulty prosthesis design, and in very rare cases, the body's rejection of the titanium implant.

How do I know that my dental implants are infected?

Just like with natural teeth, there are various signs and symptoms that act as warning signs for a failing implant.

Bleeding gums

Bleeding from the gums is one of the first signs of gum infection. This is true for the gums around the teeth or the implants. Bleeding gums do not indicate anything more than the presence of inflammation in the body, and can easily be taken care of. That does not mean that bleeding gums should be ignored, however. Gum disease progresses much quicker alongside implants as compared to natural teeth.

Swelling and redness of gums

Swelling around the gums is never a good sign for the teeth or implants close to that area. It almost certainly means the presence of pus, bone destruction, and possibly abscess formation. In some rare cases, it may be a one-off incident caused by an injury or food lodgment. However, if the swelling and redness persists for a long time or recurs, it indicates a deep-seated infection.

Bad breath

If even after proper brushing and flossing, your mouth does not feel fresh, and you get a sour taste in the mouth, it can be a sign of infection around the implant site.

Pain and fever

Bacterial infections from the mouth can easily spread throughout the body because of the rich blood supply in the gums and surrounding structures.Untreated and advanced gum infections can cause fever as the body’s defense system fights against these infections. As the infection increases around the implant, it leads to pain. The pain could be continuous or intermittent. Most commonly there is pain while chewing due to the swelling and infection around the implant.

Loose implants

A correctly placed dental implant is anchored firmly inside the jaw bone once it fuses with the surrounding bone.

If your implant suddenly feels loose or has some mobility while chewing, it could be caused by the destruction of the surrounding bone due to infection. This stage of destruction can be reached without too much pain or other symptoms. Not much except removing the implant can be done from here.

What should I do if my implant gets infected?

The first and foremost goal of a patient should be infection prevention. Following your dentist's instructions regarding the maintenance of the health of your implant is very important. One should diligently follow good hygiene practices to avoid food particles getting lodged around the implants.

If the implant does get infected despite your best efforts, the earlier it is diagnosed, the better it is.

Consult your dentist as soon as you notice something amiss with your implants. At the initial stages, a thorough scaling of the implant surface and the prosthesis can make a lot of difference. If possible, the dentist might remove the prosthesis to get a better understanding of the problem and get good access to all the surfaces of the implant while cleaning.

In case of moderate infections, your dentist might prescribe you antibiotics to control the infection.

For severe infections, surgical intervention might be needed to remove the infected tissues and bone.

Once the implant becomes loose due to bone loss, it is nearly impossible to save it. In such cases, the implant is surgically removed and the site is cleaned thoroughly. The area is left to heal. Once healing is complete, it might be possible to place another implant with bone grafts if required.

Conclusion

Recognizing the signs of symptoms of an infected implant early could make a tremendous amount of difference in the eventual outcome. Infections around dental implants need to be caught early and taken care of, otherwise implant failure becomes a likely possibility.

Couldn't find what you looking for?

TRY OUR SEARCH!