6 signs that indicate dental implant infections

Are dental implants prone to infection?

Yes. Similar to stains and discoloration on implants, it is possible that a dental implant gets infected.

You may ask “The implants are artificial things and they are embedded with metallic posts. Then how can they decay?”

The Dental implants do not decay but they can be affected by bacteria present in your mouth. The common infection on implants is peri-implantitis. Such infections cause certain discomforts or complications with the implanted artificial tooth.

In this post, we have listed various signs which indicate your dental implants are infected. Let us see.

1.Pain in and around the implanted region

In general, you feel slight pain for a few days after dental implant surgery. If the pain is prolonged for a while, visit your Dentist because the pain may be stimulated by bacterial infections. The chances are higher for the colonization of bacteria around the treated region.

In certain cases, the area around the dental implants remains numb following the treatment. Hence you cannot feel any pain in the initial stages of infection.

2. Pus or Bleeding

You may encounter difficulties like pus and bleed in gums especially in the implanted site. It is a warning sign that alerts you regarding the implant infection. Periodontal diseases like Gingivitis also makes your gum to bleed.

Gum diseases are effective to weaken the bone support of our teeth. The metallic post to implant artificial teeth is not an exception. Such bleeding gums express your implants become wobbly and get infected.

3. Unpleasant smell & taste in the mouth

Oral bacteria which are clung on the teeth surfaces and tongue are responsible for bad breath. It exhibits a nasty smell from your mouth. If bacteria and germs breed around the region of the implanted tooth, then it will become affected and produce nasty odor.

Unpleasant taste like metallic or sour taste is linked with bad breath. If you experience such bad taste after fixing implants, consult your Dentist.

4. Redness or Swollen gums

When an implanted tooth gets infected, it makes the gum region around the implants appear reddish. Similarly, the gum areas adjacent to the implants become swollen.

5. Loose implants

Dental implants are highly durable and can last more than 10 years. If it becomes loose or wobbly, then it may be due to infection.

If your implant becomes shaky, visit your Prosthodontist without delay. This is because such unstable implants offer space for the bacteria to infiltrate the gums. Food debris also gets stuck in the space available in the gum region. These will lead to serious dental infections.

6. Poor Workmanship in implants

As mentioned in the earlier, metallic post made up of titanium is required for implanting artificial teeth. This is because titanium is hard and can effectively fuse with the surrounding bones in the jaw. It assures the longevity and efficient functioning of the dental implants.

Deploying other metals to implant false teeth cannot offer the same result as Titanium. As they are not as sturdy as titanium, it makes the implants unstable and causes difficulties in chewing.

Likewise, they make the dental implants a breeding ground for bacteria and germs in the mouth.

Conclusion

Are you questioning the quality of dental implant treatments?

Don’t worry. It is the reliable teeth replacement option to get rid of negative consequences caused by missing teeth.

Oral bacteria is the main source which put the implants at risk. You can prevent that infection by maintaining an effective oral hygiene routine and professional teeth cleaning at times to evacuate the bacteria in your mouth. Similarly, make a dental visit immediately when you have any discomfort with your dental implants.