Dentists understand that life happens. It’s always a possibility for patients to have an accident that damages their teeth, or a medical complication causes a dental implant to not take as well as it should. Even though it’s extremely unlikely for dental implants in Sewell to fail, it’s not outside the realm of possibility. That’s why your dentist is ready to address any issues with your investment.
Staying informed is the best way to combat a failing implant, so here are a few steps to take the moment you realize your dental implant is loose.
What a Proper Dental Implant Should Feel Like
As a brief reminder, dental implants are metal posts placed in your jaw and integrated with your jaw bone. They do not have a periodontal ligament like natural teeth do, so they shouldn’t have any looseness whatsoever. Our natural teeth will “give” slightly when we try to move them, but dental implants shouldn’t move at all.
Don’t Try Fixing It on Your Own
If you notice your dental implant is loose, resist the urge to touch it or wiggle it around more. Moving it could loosen it from the bone it was initially designed to integrate with. Hopefully the implant itself is not loose and it’s either the abutment (screw) holding the crown in place or just the crown itself.
Make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible, ideally the same day you discover the issue. The sooner you do this the sooner your dentist can pinpoint the problem.
Pay Attention to How You Chew
If you can’t get to your dentist, make sure you don’t apply unnecessary pressure to the implant. Avoid chewing on the side where your implant is and avoid all crunchy, hard, sticky, or other tough foods that loosen the implant further.
Your best plan of action should be to stick to a soft diet until your appointment. Drink plenty of fluids and eat soft foods (i.e. beans, mashed potatoes, bananas, eggs, etc.)
Seek Professional Treatment Right Away
Once you make it to your dentist, they’ll most likely use medical imaging or another technique to look inside your tooth and determine where the problem lies. If it’s only the abutment or crown that’s loose, they should be able to fix the issue on their own. However, if there’s an issue with the implant, your dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon for removal and replacement. The absolute worst thing you can do is put off treatment by a professional.
Don’t let your loose dental implant get worse. Contact your dentist in Sewell right away if you notice it moving whatsoever!
About the Author
Dr. Christopher J. Connolly gained his undergraduate education from Villanova University and earned his D.M.D. from Fairleigh Dickenson University School of Dentistry. To provide the best care possible, Dr. Connolly continues his education by participating in over 100 hours of training programs from The Dawson Center for Advanced Dental Studies. During his training he learn more about multiple cosmetic treatments, including implants. To learn more about his practice, contact him at (856-582-0090 or visit his website.
