9 Warning Signs Of Dental Implant Problems | Dental Implants Problems

Dental implants have changed the game for 120 million Americans. Since dentures are difficult to wear and make it hard to chew and talk, most people have moved to implants.

Dental implants have a 98% success rate, but you can still run into dental implant problems. There are possibilities to get problems if you’re not taken care of by a professional. Although the risk is low, it’s better to be well-informed in case you run into some issues.

We’re here to help you out. Keep reading to determine whether your dental implants need medical attention.

Dental implants are artificial teeth that are surgically placed in areas where you are missing a tooth or teeth. These are artificial replacements that look and function like the real ones. You can get dental implants if you suffer from destroyed teeth or if you no longer have any.

One benefit of having dental implants is that those teeth can no longer suffer from cavities. The material preserves your bone, prevents further deterioration, and it lasts for a long time.

You can choose implants that are removable or fixed.

There are two types of dental implants: endosteal and subperiosteal. Endosteal uses your jawbone as an artificial root for the implants. Subperiosteal are implants placed on or above the jawbone and under the gum tissue.

Before and after you get a dental implant, you shouldn’t drink or smoke. It restricts the blood flow going to your gums, which slows your healing process.

If you have autoimmune conditions like diabetes and arthritis, ask your doctor and dentist. Your medications can cause you to suffer from slow healing and implant failure. 

Your ability to practice good oral hygiene impacts the durability of your implants. You should constantly floss to remove plaque and food stuck in between your teeth. Thoroughly clean your teeth to prevent infections from spreading in your body.

There’s a chance that your oral surgeon doesn’t have experience in properly fixing and placing implants. Find a good dental team and question their experience, the procedures, and success rates.

Signs of Dental Implant Issues

How do you tell if you have dental implants problems? When is it time to seek medical aid? One of the easiest signs to look for is an infection, as discussed below.

1. Easily Get Infections

Keep in mind that infections happen because your mouth naturally houses bacteria. Some dental implants infection signs are bad breath, pus, fever, icky taste, and throbbing pain.

Infections are the start of dental implant problems. Once you ignore infections, you’ll also encounter the problems from number two to nine.

2. You Feel Intense Pain and Discomfort

Feeling pain is normal after getting implants, and it will come in throbbing waves or short, sharp pangs. That said, you shouldn’t have any trouble eating and moving your mouth. Check with your dentist after five days to prevent getting any infections.

3. Difficulty in Chewing and Biting

You can immediately tell if you have a dental implant problem when you can’t bite down on your food. The new implants should still act like natural teeth, and you shouldn’t feel any pain from it. If the pain is similar to a tooth cavity, consult your dentist.

4. Swollen or Inflamed Gums  

Although your gums will experience minor swelling, they shouldn’t stay swollen for more than three to five days. Your gums will swell and turn red, which is a sign of infection. The infection will spread throughout your mouth and will eventually affect your blood.

You can also get chronic bad breath, fever, and pus in your implanted areas. Get a prescription from your dentist and use anti-bacterial mouthwash three times a day.

5. Allergic Reactions

Take precautions if you suffer allergies with titanium. It is a dental implant issue because your body rejects the material, which can cause itchiness.

Other effects of allergic reactions are numbness and loss of taste. You can tell your dentist to change the material like zirconia, gold, steel, or nickel.

6. The Implants Feel Loose

Having an implant should feel as if you have real teeth, not like having a foreign object in your mouth. Visit your dentist once you feel your implants wiggle or move. Leaving loose implants unattended could cause permanent damage to your gums and smile structure.

7. You Lack Bone Support

If your bones are dense or efficient, your implants will find it difficult to stick to your jawbone. It will cause your implants to shift, letting bacteria in and can cause bleeding.

There is a solution to a lack of bone support known as bone grafting. Dentists will place a donor bone graft to serve as a scaffold for new bone cells to grow on.

8. Slow and Poor Healing

The healing process will slow down and take longer if you experience constant bleeding and pain from your implants. This happens if you have cancer, gum disease, or diabetes.

When you have poor healing, you are more likely to get infection and damages in your tissues. Immediately go for a check-up to damaging your implants, gums, and jawbones.

9. You Constantly Grind Your Teeth

You'll likely start grinding your teeth if you’re missing teeth or have misaligned teeth. Teeth grinding causes pressure on your implant, making it hard to integrate with your jaw. This can be a sign of dental implant failure, so you need to check with your dentist to see if your implant aligns with your jawbone.

So how long do dental implants last? The post itself typically lasts a lifetime. Depending upon your health, the quality of the implant, and your habits, the abutment and crown portions of an implant can last just as long.

In some cases of hard use or illness, the abutment and crown can deteriorate more quickly. They may need replacing after 15 or 20 years, for example.

It’s rare to experience dental implant problems, so why not try them out now? Just do your research first.

Start with us. At Saveteeth, we can help you prevent all these problems, and we will go out of our way to ensure you are content. We are professionals and you can trust us with the highest quality care possible.

Don’t be afraid to contact us and make an appointment with our specialist, Dr. Jonathan Silverman.