What causes a dental implant to loosen?

What causes a dental implant to loosen?

Dental implants, which are one of the most widely used human innovations in the modern dental world, are designed to tolerate a lots of forces with the least complications and failures. However, in very rare cases, we may experience loosening of the dental implant and its failure. Dental implants are actually designed to be a permanent tooth replacement option. Dental implants can support the dental structure and withstand chewing or biting without slipping because they are firmly attached to the jawbone.

Aside from replacing missing tooth/teeth, implant surgery also helps to restore the structure of your jawbone by reducing the load on the remaining teeth. This preserves your natural tooth tissue and prevents bone deterioration or resorption that may lead to jawbone loss.

A dental implant looks and feels exactly like your natural teeth and can help improve your confidence and self-esteem. Patients with gaps in between their teeth as a result of tooth loss can smile with pride after receiving a dental implant procedure. Besides its aesthetic value, implant surgery makes it easier for you to eat and speak because the implant post is secured firmly into your jawbone.

Nevertheless, there are several alternatives for implant surgery, which include dental bridges, dentures, dental crowns, mini-implants, etc. It is beneficial to recognize the advantages of dental implants over other tooth replacement options as well as how long dental implants last. In this case, the cause of the implant loosening should be determined and treatment steps should be performed.

The only way to diagnose implant loosening after seeing its symptoms is to have the implant examined by a dentist or implant specialist, several x-rays (X-rays or CT scans) may be taken of the tooth.

In this article, we will look at the types of implant loosening, the symptoms of implant loosening, the causes of implant loosening, and the work that can be done to treat it.

First of all, the types of loosening of dental implants are mentioned because it must be determined which part of the components of the implant is loose.

We first examine it clinically From a clinical point of view, loosening of a dental implant with a slight shaking and movement is quite clear. This movement sometimes causes severe pain in the area of ​​implant placement, sometimes you will not feel any pain.

Loosening of the crown and base of the dental implant

Loosening of dental implants are often related to the prosthesis and screw connection between the implant fixture and the denture.

This is not a serious problem, dentists may be able to twist and tighten it, or they may need to replace the crown or abutment that attaches to the implant.

Loosening of the screw or fixture of the dental implant

In rare cases, the natural osseointegration process may not occur properly and cause the dental implant to loosen. To treat this problem, the dentist will use the bone graft method.

If your dental implant moves, there may be a problem with bone resorption around the implant, which could be a sign that the implant treatment has failed or has never been properly placed in the bone. If dental implant treatment is failing, which is very uncommon, it usually occurs in the first year and is often due to a failure to place the implant.

Another reason that bone may disappear around the implant is due to gum disease, which is called pre-implantitis when the implant affects you.

If diagnosed early, oral hygiene and antibiotics may be able to maintain the implant. If it is too late, the dentist may have to remove the implant, treat the site, and then replace it.

Who is most affected by loose dental implants?

People who do not maintain proper oral hygiene have habits that put a lot of pressure on the teeth, such as gnashing of teeth or nail biting, are more likely to have this problem. People who smoke a lot, people who have uncontrolled diabetes or they have osteoporosis.

People who are taking certain medications and people who have previously had radiation therapy at the implant site.

People who have a pre-implantitis (inflammation of the tissues around the implant). The mucosa around the implant affects the gums and is usually reversible. If left untreated, it may progress to the pre-implant and show progressive bone loss around the implant. If left untreated, this condition can lead to loose implants.

Signs and symptoms of loose dental implants

Move and shake the implant

Pain during biting 

Bone loss around the implant

Gingivitis if accompanied by pre-implantatitis (bleeding in the probe, increased pocket depth)

Uncontrolled discharge if accompanied by infection

Different degrees of bone loss around the implant

Treatment for a loose dental implant

Just as the causes of loose dental implants are different, so are the treatment options for loose implants. The choice of treatment depends on the patient's condition and the dentist's opinion.

Cleaning the dental implant area In some cases, effective treatment includes removing the crown or denture and cleaning and tightening the dental implant parts and removing the implant.

In special cases, the only way to treat implant loosening is to remove the implant, which is diagnosed according to the opinion of the dentist.

In this case, with local anesthesia, the entire dental implant is removed from inside the bone. If the loosening of the dental implant is due to infection or failure in ossification and attachment of the implant to the jawbone, the patient will receive a new implant after treatment. After a thorough clinical examination of the implant, the dentist decides what treatment plan to follow.