Dental implants offer a great solution for replacing missing teeth. However, even with their durability and high success rate, it is still possible for them to get damaged or for issues to arise. While some of these damages may seem minor and unimportant, it is crucial that you don’t continue to wear damaged dental implants as they can cause more serious health concerns.
Thankfully, dental implant restoration is a possibility, and in this article, we shall be taking a look at some of the options available for restoring damaged implants.
When are Implant Restorations Needed?
Dental implant restorations are usually needed when an implant is chipped, broken, loose, or knocked out. For example, the crown of your implant (like natural teeth) can chip or crack when you use it to bite into or chew hard foods like ice, hard candies, popcorn, or bones. Chewing on hard objects like pen caps and using your teeth to open containers can also cause your implant’s crown to chip and need restorations.
Applying extreme pressure to your dental implant can also cause it to break. In some cases, the abutment of your implant can break due to general wear and tear.
Dental Implant Restoration Options
There are different options available for fixing a damaged dental implant. The option you get will however depend on the part of the implant (implant, abutment, or crown) that has been damaged.
Below are some of the ways some common dental implant damages (issues) are restored.
Loose Dental Implants
Loose dental implants (implant posts) are usually a result of the implant never fully fusing to the jawbone. To put it simply, an implant may become loose if the fusing process is not completed as at the time of the crown’s (fake tooth) attachment. Jawbone loss can also cause an implant to become loose. Regardless of what the reason may be, a replacement implant will most likely be required.
Replacing the Implant- Unfortunately, this process is a long one. The old implant will need to be surgically removed before a bone graft is performed on the jawbone and allowed to heal. Once healing is complete, a new implant will be surgically inserted into the jaw before the replacement teeth is attached. Healing is required between each step of this process, and this can be particularly extensive for patients who need a bone graft.
Because of how time-consuming replacing a loose implant is, it is important that your entire mouth is examined thoroughly before beginning the process. This way, no underlying gum or teeth issues will cause implant trouble or bone deterioration.
Cracked or Missing Crown
As mentioned earlier, the crown of a dental implant may become damaged or cracked from extreme pressure and chewing on hard foods or objects. Depending on the extent of the damage, the crown can either be repaired or replaced.
Repairing the Crown – Minor cracks or chips can easily be repaired without having to remove the crown from the implant. This is by far the quickest and least invasive form of dental implant restoration. Usually, the procedure is performed in one office visit and without the need for numbing agents.
Replacing the Crown – If the crown of an implant does, however, completely fall out, injury from biting into hard foods or abutment breakage (abutment being too thin or worn out) are the usual culprits. If your implant’s crown has not been lost, bring it with you to the dental appointment. If the abutment is damaged, the entire crown will need to be replaced.
Replacing the Abutment- The abutment (the part that attaches the crown to the implant post) of your implant may break, or its screw may become loose and fall out due to wear and tear. When this happens, the best option is to replace the abutment so the implant can be strong and sturdy again.
Conclusion
Although dental implants are known for their very high success rate, they can still get damaged or develop issues. When this happens, a dental implant restoration is an answer. The restoration process may range from a simple and quick fix for a chipped or cracked crown to an entire replacement for loose or damaged abutments and implant posts. It is important to have a highly-rated dentist on hand that you can rely on like Sherwood Park Dental.