Loose Dental Implant? What You Should Do Next

Several weeks ago, you finally got your dental implants put in. You’re so excited to eat some of your favorite foods again, and you look forward to the day when you can smile without feeling self-conscious about your missing tooth. But then, your implant starts to feel loose. What does this mean? It is supposed to be secure, but it doesn’t feel that way. What should you do?

Regardless of the timing or circumstances behind your loose dental implant, it can be a disconcerting experience. You must act quickly or your dental implant could fail completely—you need to call your dentist right away. Why? Keep reading to learn several reasons!

Learn Why Your Implant Is Loose

Understanding the reason your implant is loose is critical because the cause will determine your next steps. Unstable dental implants mostly occur in the weeks after receiving them. Typically this means that the post has not properly bonded with the jawbone.

After some time, when the implant has fully integrated with the jawbone and starts to feel loose, there are several potential answers as to why:

• Gum infection: Although your replacement teeth are not susceptible to decay, your gum tissue and jawbone can be affected by an infection similar to gum disease.
• Injury: If you’ve suffered a blow to the face, the bond between your jawbone and the implant could become weakened.
• Bruxism: Grinding or clenching your teeth while you sleep puts an enormous amount of stress on your implants and could make them less secure.

Treat the Problem

You can’t address a loose implant on your own. Do not try to ignore the situation and hope it’ll resolve itself—it won’t. You need to contact your dentist to fix the issue, and once you both discover the cause behind your loose dental implant, you can begin treatment, whether it entails periodontal therapy (gum disease treatment), facial reconstruction after an injury, a bone graft, or another solution.

Save Your Implant from Failure

Unfortunately, not all loose implants can be salvaged even with professional treatment. In other words, sometimes unstable dental implants have to be removed entirely and started all over again. But the sooner you seek professional help, the better the odds are of saving your implant! Your dentist will do everything possible to help you have a successful, complete set of teeth.

In the end, if you notice that your dental implant feels unstable, make sure you reach out to your dentist immediately. They can determine the underlying cause, provide treatment, and potentially save your implant!

About the Practice

For more than 40 years, Boyles General Dentistry has helped individuals and families in Odessa and beyond smile with more confidence through dental implants. Our dentists, Dr. Franklin Boyles and Dr. Stephen Boyles, have achieved Mastership status with the Academy of General Dentistry, and Dr. Stephen is a member of the International Congress of Oral Implantology. If you have a loose dental implant, you should contact our office by calling 432-366-0896 or clicking here for an appointment.