For anyone with damaged implants, it is important to know dental implant restoration is possible. While some issues may seem ignorable, no one should continue to wear damaged implants. Doing so can cause additional trauma and more severe health concerns. Continue reading to find out a few options to restore damaged implants.
Loose dental implant
While dental implants typically have a high success rate, there is always a chance an issue might arise. One problem dental professionals see is a loose dental implant. This condition can occur when the implant never fully fuses to the jawbone. When the fusing process is not completed at the time of crown or denture attachment, the implant can loosen up over time. Also, because a strong, healthy jawbone is necessary for a stable implant, bone loss in the jaw can cause an implant to become loose. In either case, a replacement implant may be necessary.
Getting a replacement implant
Unfortunately, there is no easy way to replace an implant. The dental implant restoration process can take a prolonged period of time and up to four steps:
- Surgically remove the old implant
- Perform a bone graft on the jawbone
- Surgically insert new implants
- Attach replacement teeth
The healing time required between each step can be extensive, especially for patients who require a bone graft. Because of the time and investment necessary to replace a loose implant, it is crucial to have the entire mouth thoroughly examined before beginning the process. An issue with the gums or another tooth can lead to bone deterioration and implant trouble.
Cracked or missing crown
Many times a crown can be easily restored without affecting the implant. For others, the implant must be entirely replaced.
Repairing the crown
Damage such as a small chip or crack can often be repaired without having to remove the crown from the implant. This is the least invasive and quickest type of implant restoration. It can typically be performed in a single office visit, often without the need for any numbing agents.
Replacing the crown
If a crown has completely fallen out, it could be due to injury or abutment breakage. If the replacement tooth has not been lost, bring it to the dental appointment. In some cases, biting into hard food like ice or candy can cause injury to the crown. For others, a crown may fall out when an abutment is damaged. Because the abutment connecting the implant to the crown is thin, anything from head trauma to normal wear and tear can result in damage. Anytime the abutment is compromised, the entire crown typically needs to be replaced.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Dental Implant Restoration in Chicago, IL.
Conclusion
Despite the high success rate implants typically achieve, dental implant restoration may still be necessary. While a chipped or cracked crown may be a quick fix, a broken abutment can mean getting a completely new crown. A loose implant is usually the most complicated issue to restore and can involve replacing the entire implant.
Request an appointment or call Joyful Dental Care at 773-736-7767 for an appointment in our Chicago office.
Related Posts
Most first-time denture candidates are nervous about adjusting to new dentures. They usually do not know what to expect, and they may wonder if dentures will feel natural.People get dentures for many reasons, such as broken or missing teeth, excessive tooth decay, gum disease, severe tooth pain or trauma, and painful sensitivity to hot and…
In addition to recognizing the new person in the mirror, adjusting to new dentures requires changing some of a person’s former eating habits. Having a full set of great-looking teeth can give one’s confidence a significant boost, but after spending a considerable amount of time without teeth, it can take a little while to learn…
When adjusting to new dentures, patients are sometimes unsure of how to take care of them. Dentures need to be kept clean just like natural teeth, but it is not always obvious how to do so or what should be used. One question, in particular, stands out: "Is it okay to use mouthwash?"A common piece…