What Exactly Is Peri-implantitis And What Can I Do About It?
Whether you opt for dental implants in Richmond, or indeed anywhere else in the country you should be aware that there are certain long-term risks associated with them. Like any surgical procedure success can never be 100% guaranteed and out of the tens of thousands that are placed every single year, there will be dental implant failures. One such cause of dental implant failure is peri-implantitis. So what exactly is it?
In essence it’s an infectious disease specific to dental implants that cause the inflammation of the gum surrounding an already integrated dental implant. This eventually leads to the loss of the supporting bone and finally, dental implant failure. The good thing is that most patients never develop peri-implantitis, but for those who do, it isn’t normally painful, so it’s often difficult to spot. What’s more it isn’t particularly easy to treat either.
So what causes it?
There is plenty of speculation as to the exact causes of peri-implantitis however there are some factors which are known to contribute to it, more than others.
Smoking
We already know that smoking causes a constriction of the blood vessels that can lead to bone loss therefore it’s not unlikely that it can cause the same problems in implants.
Medical issues
Certain medical problems such as osteoporosis, diabetes, and poor immune systems are also known to exacerbate bone loss.
Poor oral hygiene
If you’ve suffered from gum disease in the past or fail to care for your implants correctly this can also put you at risk of peri-implantitis in later life.
Bruxism
Finally if you suffer from bruxism (teeth grinding) then this is another contributing factor towards ongoing bone loss.
So if most patients aren’t aware of any pain how do we know that peri-implantitis has taken hold?
The good news is that there are certain signs that you and your dentist should be looking out for. These include.
- Deepening of the gum pockets
- A reddening of the gum at the base of the implant
- Signs of gum bleeding
- A bad taste in the mouth
- If severe, neck glands become swollen and dental implants become loose.
Further examinations might also show
- Progressive bone loss around the implant after X-rays
- Metal thread exposure
What about treatment?
Before we talk about how to treat peri-implantitis, we should talk about prevention, because on many occasions, it is a preventable problem. Firstly, if you smoke you need to quit. If you can’t do this, then you need to be aware of the possible consequences. Secondly good standards of oral hygiene with proper brushing, flossing, and rinsing are key; and finally, regular trips to the dentist and hygienist are also a must.
Okay so on to treatment!
In essence, most peri-implantitis sufferers can expect surgery and bone grafting. This means the gum needs to be opened, the area detoxified, and new bone re-grafted onto the implant. In more severe cases, the implant is removed entirely and a new one placed.
Hopefully this has given you an insight into some of the risks involved with dental implants. If you are considering dental implants in Richmond as an option to replace your missing teeth then you should contact Sheen Dental. We’ve been placing implants for many years and as such, Dr Kalsi and the team have much experience in this field. Visit our website at www.sheendentalimplants.co.uk or contact us directly on 020 8876 5277 to find out more.