When Your Dental Implant Needs Repair
Whether your dental implant is brand new or years old, it is susceptible to damage or shifting from both daily use and high-impact incidents. Your regular dental routine can help you extend the life of your implant, but even with the best care, you may find yourself wondering if it's time for a replacement. How do you know when you need your dentist's intervention?
How Your Implant Can Get Damaged
Your dental implant is composed of two parts: a post, or a root, and a crown. The post is the screw that requires the surgical procedure, and once it is healed, the crown is placed over it. Both pieces have the potential for problems:
- Your implant post can loosen.
- Your crown can loosen.
- Your implant crown can be cracked.
The post is more susceptible to loosening closer to installation, while the crown can be damaged at any time like any of your teeth. If you are having issues with a recently installed implant post, you may be experiencing not just damage, but implant failure, where the implant has not properly integrated with your jawbone. This is an unlikely possibility, only happening in 5% of cases.
Keeping Your Implant In Good Condition
There are several ways to avoid damage to your implant, most of which will help you avoid damaging your natural teeth as well.
- Keep up with your regular dental hygiene to reduce your chances of infection.
- Avoid hard foods.
- Don't grind your teeth. You may find that a mouth guard helps if you do this in your sleep.
If you feel that any part of your implant is loose, avoid using the tooth or applying pressure to it in any way as this can make the problem worse. Visit your dentist as soon as possible to get your implant adjusted.
At WestLake Dental Care, we understand that being prepared makes a world of difference when things don't go according to plan. Contact us to ask any questions you have about the implant process or make an appointment if you are experiencing complications.
