Infected Dental Implants
Dental implants have become one of the most popular tooth replacement treatments. It is estimated that approximately 500,000 adults get a dental implant each year. Dental implants offer increased stability, durability, and improved comfort over other tooth replacement treatment options. Regardless of all of the benefits, complications can occur with dental implant treatment. One possible complication with dental implant treatment is infection. More information on signs of dental implant infection are provided below.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
Dental implants are titanium or ceramic posts that are inserted into the jawbone during a surgical procedure. These posts are designed to act like the root of the new artificial tooth or teeth. Dental implants provide a stable support for a new artificial crown, bridge, or dentures. Additionally, implants can help to stimulate bone growth and improve the health of the jawbone.
Common Signs of a Dental Implant Infection
While most dental implant treatments are successful, complications can happen, including infection. Here are some of the common signs of an infected dental implant:
Pain and Trouble Chewing: Pain and discomfort are common immediately following a dental implant procedure. This discomfort should only last a few days after the procedure and should be manageable with medication prescribed by the dentist or over-the-counter medication. If you have pain after the procedure that lasts longer than a few days and increases to the point where talking and chewing are difficult, you should contact your dentist.
Fever, Redness, and Swelling: Like pain, some redness and swelling around the site of the implant is common immediately after surgery. This redness and swelling should reduce after a few days. If you have swelling and redness that lasts longer than a few days, you may be developing an infection. If you develop a fever with this swelling you should contact your dentist immediately.
Bad Taste in the Mouth: Bacteria or food debris can cause infections near the implant site. An infection caused by bacteria will create a consistently bad taste in the mouth or bad breath that won’t go away. Bad taste in the mouth is a very common symptom of the start of an infection.
Bleeding or Pus: When an infection develops, the body sends red and white blood cells to the infection site. This usually means blood and pus will develop near the infection site. Immediately after an implant surgery, some light bleeding should be expected. If this bleeding continues or pus starts to develop after a few days of recovery, it may be an early sign of an infection.
Loose Implant: To be successful, dental implants must securely fuse themselves to the jawbone. This process, called osseointegration, takes places over a period of several months, starting after the implant is surgically placed in the bone. If the implant feels loose it may be a sign that the implant is not fusing with the jawbone as it should be. An infection or unhealthy tissue are two potential issues preventing the fusing process from occurring successfully.