If you are living with tooth loss, be it from an individual lost tooth to a missing arch’s worth on either the top or bottom jaw, you might be researching how the procedure works, the risks, and associated benefits you can look forward to.
One of the most commonly asked questions about dental implants and infection – namely ‘can dental implants get an infection’ and if so, when and why?
To answer this, the expert team at MIC reveal all, including what affects the likelihood of infection and how you can prevent it!
So, can dental implants get an infection or is it a myth?
When it comes to dental implants, there are a few things that can affect both healing and the expected lifetime of the treatment.
The biggest and most common risk of all is infection.
Dental implant infections are a rare but highly treatable form of gum disease, referred to by professionals as peri-implantitis.
If professional care is sought, symptoms and the progression of the disease can be managed through treatments such as:
- Submucosal debridement – cleaning the infected area around the implant
- Flossing or scaling instruments – to clean out deeper mucosal pockets
- Applied antiseptic use in the most affected areas
However, in the worst cases – when symptoms have been ignored – patients can experience inflammation and bone or implant loss.
Causes of dental implant infection
There are two main causes of dental implant infections: poor implantology procedures and bacterial build-up.
Choosing the wrong dental implant provider
If you get treatment from a poorly qualified, inexperienced, or disreputable dentist, harmful bacteria can enter the mouth before, during, and after the implant-fitting process.
This can be caused by:
- Contaminated or improperly sterilised equipment
- Performing procedures in unsterilised spaces
- Improper fitting techniques – if gaps are left between the implant and the bone
It should be stressed, however, this is incredibly rare in the UK.
The development of harmful bacteria
Just like traditional gum disease, dental implant infections can also be caused by harmful bacteria (plaque) in the mouth settling and multiplying.
However, unlike patients without dental implants, the wound in the mouth can allow harmful bacteria easier access to the inner structures of the mouth, like the interdental gum and the jawbone.
This can occur before, during, or after surgery and help it spread to other adjacent areas of the mouth and affect the severity of the infection.
As such, factors that worsen or speed up plaque/bacterial development act as contributing factors to dental implant infections, including:
- Poor or lax oral hygiene routines
- Already having gum disease
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- Smoking – as it reduces blood flow to the gums and increases oral bacteria levels
- Having a misaligned jaw or bite – which can make cleaning the teeth harder
- Incorrect implant placement
- Allergic reactions
- Medical conditions like diabetes
- Compromised immune systems
- Bruxism or tooth grinding
Symptoms of dental implant infections
If you are concerned, be on the lookout for the following most common symptoms and seek treatment as soon as you can to limit the risk of bone and implant loss.
- Pain in the area that doesn’t go away with over-the-counter pain relief
- Bleeding from the implant site after healing should have commenced
- Swelling or inflammation in the area
- A bad taste in the mouth or persistent bad breath despite regular brushing
- A fever
- Trouble chewing food
- Loose or wobbly feeling implants
How to stop dental implants from becoming infected
If you would like to minimise your chances of developing a dental implant infection, you should:
- Choose a reputable, trusted provider
To completely avoid infection from poor sterilisation or improper dental implant placement, ensure you find an implantologist who is sufficiently qualified and experienced to perform the treatment.
This is especially important if you have additional complications, like pre-existing health conditions, like diabetes, or already have gum disease.
Likewise, ensure you attend all aftercare appointments and check-ups as this is a simple and easy way to catch any potential infections before they develop into something more serious.
- Maintain good oral hygiene
As part of the aftercare and healing process, it is incredibly important to keep brushing and flossing as soon as you are sufficiently healed.
This removes plaque and stops the bacterial build-up that can lead to infection.
Similarly, it is encouraged to rinse the mouth once or twice a day to help remove debris and bacteria.
- Avoid or give up smoking
If you haven’t already, stopping smoking will remove any limitations on your body’s healing potential and will lower your risk of infection.
- Choose low or no-sugar options
High-sugar foods can feed the plaque bacteria naturally found within the mouth, causing excess bacteria build-up.
Trusted dental implants in London
Dental implant infections are thankfully rare and if they occur, are incredibly easy to treat – so you shouldn’t worry too much if considering implant treatment.
However, choosing a well-qualified implant provider and following our top tips carefully should ensure you minimise the risk as much as possible, helping your new smile to last for decades to come.
Still have some questions? Why not give us a call on 020 3285 6142 or email [email protected] to speak to an experienced member of the team?