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Peri-Implant disease is when inflammation & infection sets in around a dental implant. It causes bone loss and threatens the implant’s lifespan and crown. We always hope that dental implants will last a lifetime. But sometimes, the infection can set in and cause bone loss and threatens their lifespan.
Some signs that indicate the disease in the mouth are bleeding gums, drainage, tenderness in the gums when cleaning, and bone loss is seen in an x-ray. Pain is rarely a symptom since, unlike a tooth, the implant itself does not have any nerves.
Since it does not cause pain, many patients with peri-implant disease may not know they have an infection around their implant. And that’s why it is very important to have frequent follow-ups with your dentist, hygienist, or periodontist so they can help maintain your implant and catch any signs of trouble early.
Like other medical procedures like artificial joints or heart valves, implants are a mechanical replacement of a body part and can encounter complications. But if implants are maintained well, they can serve you for many, many years under good health conditions.
Dental implants are prosthetic parts designed to replace a missing tooth or support a denture. We like to think about them as a mechanical part that requires maintenance. The implant must be kept clean & have good support.
And it is important to recognize that the bone around an implant can wear out if it takes on too much “mileage.” Early diagnosis is the key to treating implant disease and returning the implant to a healthy state.
Getting dental implants does not mean that you are going to get the peri-implant disease. It is avoidable and treatable if caught quickly. The longer the implant infection goes untreated, however, the more serious the side effects will become. Ultimately dental implants can be lost and bone structure damaged.
The lost bone & tissue can often be regenerated if the implant disease is diagnosed early enough and if the implant still has good jawbone support remaining.
Early diagnosis is the key to treating dental implants and returning the implant to a healthy state.
Implants must receive the support they need for long and healthy life. No two patients are the same. When a dental implant is placed or after an implant with the disease is treated, our periodontist at Periodontal Specialists will set you up with the tools you need for success.
We will also help you develop a maintenance plan for your dental implant customized for you. Your implant support team includes you, your periodontist, your dentist, and your hygienist.
We follow the most up-to-date research on treating Peri-Implant Disease, which is ever-evolving. Treatment methods include surgical debridement, bone & gum regeneration, antibiotics, deep cleaning, and laser-assisted therapy.
Your treatment may involve one or more of these procedures, depending on the situation. Your periodontist is a specialist in helping to determine which treatment is best for you and your implant.
Our team at Periodontal Specialists treats many patients suffering from this condition. It is part of our specialty that we focus on in our practice.
The mission of Periodontal Specialists is to improve the quality of life of our patients through the diagnosis and treatment of their periodontal disease and through rehabilitation with dental implants.
