Dental Implants, as we all know, replicate the form and function of a real tooth. And because of this reason, dental implant stands as the best tooth-replacement option for the loss of one or more teeth. Although modern dentistry can offer an implant success rate of over 95%, there are some issues that may arise due to poor oral hygiene and other various factors. Usually, dental implants are securely placed in the jaw bone and do not allow for any movement after its placement. So is a wiggling dental implant a sign of implant failure?
Any sort of movement in the implant should be taken seriously and should be brought to your dentist’s attention immediately.
Why shouldn’t dental Implants move?
Many of us would have noticed that our natural teeth are capable of slight movement while being pushed or pulled. This is not a sign of disease, rather it is a feature that is present even in a healthy set of teeth. If it is normal for our natural teeth to move a little bit, we might think it is normal for dental implants to also move. But that is wrong.
Unlike dental implants, our natural teeth are held in its place by a stretchy periodontal ligament which allows for minute movement when being pushed or pulled. But dental implants, on the other hand, are not attached to any periodontal ligament rather they are secured directly into the jaw bone. Since it is supported only by the jaw bone, it should not move at all. Any sign of movement indicates dental implant failure.
If left untreated, the constant movement of your dental implant can create pressure against the surrounding bone and can lead to bone loss around the implant and eventually the dental implant might fall off.
What are the causes of a loose Dental Implant?
There are several reasons which may cause the implant to move. One reason why the implant may move might be due to a loose crown. This is not a serious problem and can be fixed by screwing down the crown or by replacing the crown or abutment.
If your implant is moving entirely, it may be due to the loss of bone around the implant or due to the poor integration of the implant with the jaw bone. Smoking and uncontrolled diabetes after dental implant placement despite the dentist’s advice are some of the main reasons for poor integration of dental implants with the jaw bone. Another common reason is peri-implantitis. It is an infectious disease that causes inflammation of the gum tissue and bone tissue that surrounds the implant. This inflammation can cause jaw bone loss which can lead to the loosening of the implant. Once again poor oral hygiene is the main culprit behind this condition. Hence it is in the best interest of the patient to maintain proper oral hygiene so that the failure of the dental implants can be avoided.
Regardless of the cause of dental implant failure, if signs of a wiggling implant are seen, you should visit a dental clinic and get your dental implants checked by the dentist.