How to fix loose dental implants?

Symptoms of a loose dental implant

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Most often the patient is able to determine by his or herself that a part of the prosthesis is loose. Touching it with your tongue or fingers might be enough to recognize a problem. It is important to contact a dentist immediately in order to prevent further damage.

Signs of a dental implant loosening include:

• the artificial tooth moving,

• pain, especially while chewing,

• sunken-in gums,

• bleeding upon touch,

• discoloration in the affected area, and

• the tooth-cap falling out.

If you notice these symptoms and report them to your dentist, they will likely perform an X-ray. A clinical inspection will then reveal which part is moving, as it might not be the implant itself.

More often than not, it is the abutment or crown that is loose. This is good news, as the whole implant fixture may not have to be removed from the bone. All mobility to do with an implant is bad, nonetheless, and should be dealt with as soon as possible.

Diagnosis and treatment may be more difficult in cases when one implant supports two or more crowns or even a denture.

Causes of a loose dental implant

Some issues can arise soon after placement or during the recovery period, while others can become apparent years after. In either case, the complication can be caused by different factors.

How the problem is dealt with depends on the element that is affected. This could be the crown, abutment, or the implant. Leaving any of these parts loose and untreated could lead to implant failure as well as complications for the entire body.

Most common: loose dental abutment

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The abutment is the piece that joins the implant and the tooth cap (crown). This is the part that becomes loose most often, making up 33% of cases. It often comes with no pain and can usually be fixed without causing any further damage to the rod or crown.

Abutments usually come loose due to trauma, faulty designs, or overload. The last can also be associated with incorrect placement of the rod. This case might require removal of the implant.

Treatment

Ideally, the abutment should be removed along with the crown, which can then be detached outside the mouth. This would involve unscrewing the prosthesis. The tooth cap might be saved, reducing your costs.

Sometimes it is not possible to remove the abutment without damaging the crown. In such cases, it might have to be sectioned or cut off with a drill. Your dentist can attempt to get a hold of a master cast from the lab that made it or make a new one.

You might have to wear a temporary restoration for a few weeks.

Easiest to fix: loose dental implant crown

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The crown is the part of the restoration that is visible in the mouth. It can be made of several different materials, the most common being porcelain.

A loose implant crown comes about due to traumas and fractures. Those can be caused by grinding teeth and injuries. If it is moving, there is likely a crack in the tooth cap itself or in the cement holding it.

Treatment

The treatment of a loose dental implant crown is similar to a damaged abutment. It is unscrewed if possible. If not, the crown may be extracted provided the cement is fragile enough to allow this. Otherwise, it is cut up into smaller parts. The abutment or rod is then thoroughly cleaned.

If a dental implant crown fell out completely, but is still in good shape, it can be cemented back in place. This is a simple procedure and it may not require anesthetic.

The situation is more complex if the crown gets damaged. The dentist can try to obtain the cast that was previously taken or make a new one. Either way, you are likely to wear a temporary one for a few weeks.

Screw-retained crowns can sometimes become loose leading to a loose crown or abutment. This is very easy to fix by retightening.

Worst case scenario: loose dental implant

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The biggest problem emerges when there is an issue with the implant itself. There may be pain, numbness in the lips, and maybe even inflammation in the gums.

These symptoms appear when there is a dental implant infection. Ignoring them could lead to severe complications.

The most common cause of a loose implant is infection combined with bone loss. It can also be caused by trauma or overloading. The first can be triggered by poor oral hygiene, smoking, and some medicines. The second happens if the design is faulty or if the placement was not ideal.

Treatment

Loose dental implants always require complete removal. If there was bone loss, you may need grafting. This includes additional months of healing. The next step is to reattempt implantation or to fit a denture. The dentist will discuss options with you.

In the case that you don’t require grafting, you may be immediately fitted with an implant that has greater dimensions. That way it still has a chance of successful osseointegration after removal. There must not, however, be any infection or periodontitis.

It may be possible to reuse the crown, which can save you significant costs. The removal process will still require proper aftercare, possibly antibiotics, and painkillers.