Dental Implant Moving
The dental implant is a medical solution aimed at replacing one or more missing teeth with an artificial root made of titanium which takes the place of the natural root. The root integrates directly into the gum bone in order to subsequently place a crown. A dental implant is not the same as a dental prosthesis. Indeed, the dental implant is the anchor for fixing a prosthesis.
The dental implant is done in several ways:
“Endosseous” implant: the implant is made directly into the jawbone. The implants used are often screws or cylinders. Endosseous implants are done in two stages:
- The first step is to incise the gum in order to have access to the bone and thus place the implant.
- The second step is to place the dental prosthesis (this can be a crown or a bridge)
“Subperiosteal” implant: the subperiosteal implant is made on the jawbone. This method is done on the lower jaw, on the mandible or when the bone is too short. Subperiosteal implants are done in one step to take care of the implant faster.
The advantages of the dental implant
The dental implant is an effective solution to replace one or more missing teeth. In fact, here are the advantages of dental implants:
- Dental implants allow the placement of fixed prostheses
- They are more comfortable in the long run
- Implants give you more stability
- They allow better chewing of food and thus better digestion
What is dental implantology?
Dental implantology is a branch of dentistry where artificial roots are implanted into your jawbone, which will provide a steady post for the addition of a prosthetic tooth. Implants can replace one or several missing teeth. To have an implant done, the steps generally are as follows:
- Make an initial consultation: the dentist will take care of the implantation
- Have an oral health assessment: health questionnaire, full mouth exam and x-rays taken of teeth, jaw and head
- Gum preparation: this step is only useful if the patient lacks gum or bone for surgery. In order to place dental implants, the surgeon must then do a gingival or even bone graft in order to add volume
- dental implants: the procedure for dental implants is done under local anesthesia, under sedation or in some cases under general anesthesia
Why choose a dental implant?
Aging can worsen the oral health of seniors. Indeed, several pathologies can occur with age and cause the fall of one or more teeth. In order to overcome these problems, the dental implant then makes it possible to replace the natural root with an artificial root.
Dental implantologist: how to choose?
Using dental implantology requires daily support. Indeed, it is preferable to be near your dentist to correctly follow all the stages of implantology. Choosing a dentist or dental surgeon near you allows you to correctly follow all the appointments and to have a care very quickly. For your convenience, do not hesitate to ask your dentist if he has specific training in implantology.
The risks of having a dental implant
The risks of infection are very low insofar as the dentist is particularly attentive to compliance with the rules of asepsis. The dentist is required to use single-use instruments when possible or to sterilize each instrument after each procedure. This greatly cuts down the risk of infection. Most dentists will prescribe antibiotics for the patient to take after the implant procedure to further reduce the risk of infection.
Though implants are generally safe, it is not possible to completely exclude the risk resulting from poor integration of the implant into the bone. This can be the result of one of the following causes:
- Excessive heating of the bone causing the cells to coagulate when the dentist digs the bone to be able to insert the screw
- Insufficient density, thickness or height of the bone
- An implant positioning error, an occlusion error or an overload of the prosthesis
- Defective healing. This may result in particular from the consumption of tobacco. Tobacco can cause a 50% drop in the fields of successful implant placement because it causes pathologies of the oral mucosa and increases the risk of inflammation of the gum tissue.
These phenomena are rare and most often occur within a year of implant placement. In these cases, the implant may move. If this happens, you simply need to make a new appointment with the dentist who will suggest the most appropriate solution. If you are a smoker, you should stop smoking if your implant is moving. You can get effective help by seeing a doctor who specializes in smoking cessation.
What if my implant starts moving well after it has healed?
If your implant starts moving after the initial healing process, it is important to see your dentist as soon as possible. Possible causes of implant movement include:
- Infection or inflammation- Inflammation and infection are most commonly caused by lack or oral hygiene, so again, it is important to brush your teeth, floss, and see your dentist regularly, especially if you have gum bleeding or pain associated with the implant movement.
- Smoking or other tobacco use- tobacco use is by far one of the most common reasons implants move or fail completely.
- Gum disease- gum diseases such as gingivitis or periodontitis are serious and require treatment. If your gums are tender and bleeding, this could be a sign of either of these diseases.
- Other health problems such as diabetes- while having diabetes does not preclude you from having an implant, uncontrolled diabetes can be the source of the movement of your implant, so it will be important to talk to your doctor and your dentist.
- Improper placement of the implant- while this is rare, it is possible that your implant was placed too close to another root. Your dentist will x-ray your implant to see if this might be the cause if you experience movement.
For moving or wiggling implants, treatment is usually straightforward if there is sufficient bone mass. If there is not, or if you have lost bone mass since the implant, other surgical interventions might be discussed. However, the best cure is prevention! You should brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day to reduce the formation of dental plaque. A semi-annual examination of the teeth by the dentist is recommended.