Can a Dentist Save My Loose Implant?

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Last August, I had dental implant surgery. A periodontist placed the implant, and I returned to my regular dentist for a temporary crown. The dentist had difficulty getting the temporary crown on and forced it down. The crown hurt the entire time I had it.

My dentist kept saying everything was okay. He could not see anything wrong. Every time he touched the temporary crown, I felt even more pain, and I think he was afraid to try to remove it. I switched to a new dentist to get the permanent crown because I needed more confidence in my prior dentist. My new dentist says that the implant is loose. I know it is loose due to the trouble with the temporary crown. Can you give me an outside opinion on whether this can be fixed without removing the implant and doing it all over again? Thank you. Demetrius from Ohio

Demetrius,

Thank you for your question.

Can a Dentist Save Your Loose Implant?

A dental implant with the crown, abutment, and root form identified, for information on loose dental implants due to infection

A skilled implant dentist must take digital X-rays and examine your implant before determining whether they can save or remove it. Sometimes, eliminating infection around an implant or adding bone graft material can save it. If a dentist must remove it, you may require bone grafting and healing time before replacing the implant.

Why Do Dental Implants Loosen?

Reasons that a dental implant may loosen include:

  • The crown – The dental crown—not the implant itself—might be loose. If a dentist does not correctly place the crown, pressure can cause it to loosen.
  • Poor placement – If a dentist or surgeon places an implant in the wrong location, it can loosen.
  • Premature loading – Sometimes, pressure from attaching replacement teeth too soon can loosen implants.
  • Smoking – Blood vessels will constrict if you smoke during healing, and your jawbone and implants will not fuse.
  • Patient risks or habits during healing – If you grind your teeth, bite your nails, or deviate from a soft-food diet during the healing process, implants can loosen.
  • Gum disease – Infected tissue around implants can prevent your jawbone from integrating.
  • Lack of bone density – Jawbone supports implants. The implant fixtures won’t fuse to the jawbone if you lack bone density. They can easily loosen.

Select a dentist with advanced training and years of experience with dental implants or who works with a skilled oral surgeon for implant placement. Schedule at least two second-opinion appointments to compare your options.

Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher sponsors this post. Dr. Brooksher is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.

Why Are My Gums Sore Between Two Teeth?

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My gums are sore between my first and second molar teeth. They hurt worse every time I eat, but the pain goes away within an hour. The pain is getting worse, but it’s limited to my gums. I don’t have any toothaches. My dentist completed an x-ray and said nothing was wrong with my teeth. One tooth is an old root canal tooth, but the gums hurt, not the tooth. My dentist says if the pain continues, he might recommend an extraction. Why would a dentist pull a tooth when the gums hurt? Is my dentist trying to upsell me for a dental implant? – Thank you. Keith from Shreveport

Keith,

Thank you for contacting Dentistry by Brooksher about your gum sensitivity. Dr. Brooksher would need to examine your gums, teeth, and x-rays to identify the source of your discomfort, but we will discuss some causes of gum sensitivity.

What Causes Gum Sensitivity?

Periodontal (gum) disease is often the cause of gum sensitivity and pain. According to the Centers for Disease Control, infection and inflammation from gum disease can cause the following symptoms:

  • A change in partial denture fit
  • A change in the way your teeth fit together
  • Bleeding gums
  • Chronic bad breath
  • Chronic bad taste
  • Gum recession
  • Loose teeth
  • Painful chewing
  • Red gums
  • Sensitive teeth
  • Swollen gums
  • Tender gums
Model of a dental implant with the crown, abutment, and root form labeled

Gum disease treatment can save teeth

You may have gum disease and a deep pocket between your teeth that can trap food particles that cause pain.

Will You Need Tooth Removal?

If your gums are sensitive, most likely you need gum disease treatment, not tooth removal and a dental implant. Even teeth that loosen from gum disease are often savable with root scaling and planing (deep cleaning). We recommend getting a second opinion from an experienced dentist to identify the source of your pain and explain treatment options to resolve it.

Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Steven Brooksher sponsors this post. Dr. Brooksher is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.

 

My snap-on denture bone graft failed

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I agreed to two dental implants for a lower snap-on denture. My dentist said my jawbone had shrunk from having all my teeth missing for 15 years, so he needed to do bone grafting. We waited two months, and then during my second follow-up appointment, my dentist said that the bone graft failed. I am disappointed that I must start the process all over. I know my dentist has placed implants for at least a hundred patients. Although I didn’t think about it before, I wonder if he is not is good with bone grafting. Although I like my dentist, I hate the thought of another bone graft failure. I don’t know what to ask you, but I’m nervous and want some insight into the issue. – Thank you. Isaac from TN

Hello, Isaac,

Thank you for contacting our office.

We understand your concern and hesitation. Although many dentists have implant training and place implants frequently, fewer dentists have lots of bone grafting experience.

It is good that your dentist is upfront with you and did not try to place your implants anyway. Any implant denture—including a snap-on denture—requires good bone support. Otherwise, both the graft and implant will fail.

What to Do After Bone Graft Failure

Diagram of a snap-on denture. The denture is hovering above the jawbone that has two dental implants in it.

Healthy bone grafting will help secure your affordable implant denture

If you have experienced bone graft failure and are hesitant about letting your dentist try again, consider these options:

  • Talk to your dentist about your concerns – It may be easier to decide what to do if you ask your dentist how much bone grafting experience he has acquired over the years. You can also ask if your dentist knows what caused the bone grafting failure and what he will to do prevent it from recurring.
  • Ask for a referral – You can ask your dentist to refer you to a periodontist (implant specialist) or an oral surgeon for grafting and implant placement.
  • Get a second opinion – You can get a second opinion from a dentist with advanced implantology training who regularly performs bone grafting procedures.

Each time you experience bone graft failure, you must wait for the grafting sites to heal before another attempt. Weigh the pros and cons and do what you think is best for your oral health. Best wishes for a resolution and being able to enjoy your new implant denture.

Steven Brooksher, DDS is a cosmetic and implant dentist in Baton Rouge, LA. Read about his credentials and visit his smile gallery. It will help you determine what to look for in a dentist in your area.

 

Odor from new dental implants annoys my multiple chemical sensitivity

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I have multiple chemical sensitivities and never anticipated a problem with dental implants. I am in the middle of dental implants and wearing temporary dentures. But when I open my mouth to talk or eat, I smell a distinct rubbery smell. I asked my dentist about the implants. And it was everything I  know already. The implants are titanium, the temporary denture is acrylic, and my final teeth will be porcelain. But I was not expecting a chemical smell. My dentist says that the odor is probably coming from my acrylic teeth and will go away when I get my final denture. But the strong smell is annoying. Will the scent really go away? – Thank you. Daniella

 

Daniella,

Thank you for your question. Although Dr. Brooksher would need to examine your implants and temporary dentures, several elements could be causing the odor.

Odor with New Dental Implants

We will discuss whether titanium posts, temporary acrylic teeth, or food debris can create an odor in new dental implants.

New titanium dental implants and odor

A dentist embeds titanium implants in your bone. They are beneath the gumline, so they are unlikely to produce an odor that you can smell. You can ask your dentist to let you smell an implant like the one he placed in your bone. But if titanium posts must be replaced, your dentist or an oral surgeon must remove the implants surgically. Afterward, you need bone grafting. And after the bone heals, your dentist must make new implant holes for zirconia implants.

Acrylic implant denture and odor

Acrylic has a slight smell, so the odor from your implant denture may be coming from the denture itself. If that is the case, it will probably resolve when your dentist places your new denture.

Odor from food debris

I food debris collects in your mouth—perhaps beneath your temporary denture, you could be smiling it. You may benefit from a water flosser to clean beneath your denture. You can also rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide to clean out food debris and neutralize odor. But do not use peroxide for more than two or three weeks because it will promote an oral yeast infection.

Does the odor cause a reaction?

You mentioned that the strong smell is annoying, but we wonder if it causes a sensitivity reaction. Does it make you tired or cause a reaction that you usually get with strong smells? Your answer is another clue to the source of the odor.

Consider getting a dental implants second opinion

If the odor causes a reaction and your dentist cannot identify the source, you can consider getting a second opinion from a skilled implant dentist.

 

Dr. Steven Brooksher, DDS of Baton Rouge, a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.

My painful dental implant and bone graft failed

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My dentist has placed hundreds of dental implants in the past 15 years. I know friends and two family members who received implants from him with no problem. Before doing my implant, my dentist told me that I would need a bone graft first. After healing, he placed the bone graft. But I was in so much pain, he removed it and said the bone was not built up enough, so I could not get an implant. Now my dentist recommends a bridge. I do not want a dental bridge. Although my dentist has placed many implants, I wonder if I should switch to a specialist. Is it worth it, or am I wasting time and money? Thank you. Dylan

Dylan,

Although Dr. Brooksher would need to examine your implant site for an accurate diagnosis, we doubt that a dentist with advanced implant training would have the same problems as your dentist. It sounds like your dentist is trying to give you a solution that he can confidently complete.

How much pain should dental implants cause?

With dental implants, you will not feel pain during surgery. Afterward, most patients feel mild pain and discomfort that is temporary and mild.

  • During – Before implant surgery, your dentist will sedate you, and local anesthesia will numb the implant site. You will not feel pain during surgery.
  • After – Initial pain after dental implant surgery is normal, but it peaks in a few days and continues to improve. And you will take anti-inflammatory and pain medication to minimize the pain.

But bone grafting can be complex. Although your dentist placed hundreds of implants, bone grafting might be challenging for him—or maybe he doesn’t have much experience with grafting. Unfortunately for you as the patient, a dentist exploring new skills like bone grafting may have difficulty with a case.

On a positive note, your dentist could have left the implant in place and let it develop complications before removing it, so his choice to remove it was wise and considerate.

A dental bridge instead of an implant?

Diagram of the phases of a dental implant for a comparison to a partial denture.

Advanced implant dentists understand bone grafting and implant surgery

You have decided to get a dental implant—not a dental bridge as your dentist has offered. Although a dental bridge is an acceptable form of tooth replacement, if you want the implant, go for it. We recommend that you schedule a consultation with a dentist with advanced implantology training. You can ask your dentist to transfer copies of your x-rays and CT scans or take copies with you. The potential new dentist will explain your treatment options and how they will complete the bone graft and place the implant.

Best wishes on your next experience with dental implants. Take time to check the implant dentist’s credentials first.

Steven Brooksher, DDS of Baton Rouge, sponsors this post. Dr. Brooksher is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.