Implants and Gum Disease
Like teeth, implants can be affected by gum disease. They can be lost and have the bone deteriorate around them. When this happens, often too much damage has occurred for repeat treatment in this region.
There are, namely, two conditions that can affect Implants:
- Peri-Implant Mucositis: This is an infection of the soft tissues surrounding an implant.
- Peri-Implantitis: This is an infection of the bone support surrounding an implant.
Once the gum is infected there becomes a higher risk of bone involvement. Statistics claim that 30 per cent of implant failure is due to a gum disease of the supporting tissues that hold implants in the jaw.
Once there is an infection around an implant, it seems to progress faster than when it is around teeth. For this reason, it is imperative to have a sound post-implant treatment prevention program designed that is unique to the particular case.
How We Can Help
Our unique referral relationships with implantologists help maintain these types of treatments for the long-term success of the implant. We work collaboratively with the implantologist on a treatment plan that facilitates both the supporting bone and gum as well as the ideal implant restorative plan.
Perio-implant integration treatments are best served together with a preventative program to achieve success. One aspect we look at early on in the diagnosis process is the particular risk factors associated with problematic implant treatment. We aim to eliminate these and make the patient aware of these during the assessment process.
Implant Periodontal Risk Factors
Certain aspects tend to exacerbate, if not deteriorate, the condition of implants. These risk factors need to be addressed before the commencement of any implant restorative work.
Some of these risk factors include:
- Poor Oral Hygiene: Goes on to form a bacterial biofilm which attracts further infection. This, in turn, causes inflammation around the teeth and implants.
- The Patient’s Dental and Medical History: Social habits can have a negative impact on the outcome of implant treatment, especially related to periodontics. For example, numerous studies show that smoking habits inhibit the healing process and so further deteriorates the implant.
- Systemic Diseases and Medications: This needs to be carefully evaluated before any implant treatment. Those that form contraindications can include psychiatric instability, recent heart attack or stroke, severe immunosuppression, uncontrolled bleeding, current malignancy therapy, high dose radiation, drug abuse / alcoholism, pregnancy, diabetes that is severely uncontrolled and renal failure. Some medications affect bone metabolism, and so this needs to be looked at carefully before implant treatment.
- Previous Periodontitis and Infection: This may occur even if no teeth are present, but the patient had periodontal disease in the past. This can affect prognosis. A periodontist can work with you to provide a solution for your periodontal disease.
- No Mobility of Implant Gum Margin: When the fold of tissue (frenum) that holds the lips in place pulls on the gums, there is increased failure associated which should be assessed early on in during the examination process.
As you can imagine, implant failure concerning gum disease can be a multi-factorial situation. For this reason, it is better to prevent any such occurrence from happening in the first place.
Our unique diagnosis and treatment planning protocols ensure that the treatments are based upon a sound foundation, and any risk factors are clearly identified early on in the process.
Post-Implant Treatment Prevention Program
The cause for gum disease surrounding implants is much the same as for teeth. However, once infected, the disease tends to spread faster with implants. A post-treatment prevention program must be considered at the treatment planning stage. We like to work closely with the referring dentist to ensure this occurs.
There are three stages to ensuring a healthy implant system within the mouth:
- Pre-Assessment. Before any implant treatment is considered, we need to eliminate any risk factors and make sure the conditions for treatment are conducive for success.
- Create a prevention program based on the specific needs of the patient’s condition. This home regime and the professional maintenance plan needs to be practical and achievable.
- Regular reviews are necessary post-implant treatment to ensure no deterioration occurs. This can easily be done by our periodontists in Essex. We can commence with maintenance therapy as part of this plan.
Dental implant mucositis treatment
From poor oral hygiene to smoking cigarettes, many things can cause peri-implant diseases like peri-implant mucositis.
If you’re experiencing symptoms like redness or swelling that are accompanied by pain and discomfort around your dental implants, it’s important you take a trip to your dentist. Only they will be able to diagnose the problem and provide non-surgical treatment so that it can be managed effectively.
The first step is to remove plaque and calculus from the exposed part of the infected dental implant, before performing an implant surface decontamination procedure with an antibacterial solution.
By removing the source of inflammation in this way, the infected soft tissues will be able to heal by themselves within a couple of weeks.
Treating peri-implant mucositis treatment sooner rather than later is vital if you want to prevent it from developing into peri-implantitis, which can lead to the loss of your implant, bone loss and the need for surgical therapy.
BOOK A CONSULTATION TODAY
Whether you’re experiencing symptoms of peri-implant mucositis, in need of expert advice on how to take care of your implants or have any other questions about implant dentistry, our experts are here for you.
Give us a call today on 020 8506 0701 or email us at [email protected] and we’ll be in touch to answer your questions and arrange a date for your consultation.
Or, you can head over to our online booking system and select the date and time that best suits your schedule, and we’ll look forward to meeting you at our dental practice in Essex.
Peri-implantitis FAQs
Is peri-implantitis reversible?
Whilst it’s absolutely possible to stop the progression of peri-implantitis, or peri-implant disease, it isn’t always fully reversible.
The success of your peri-implantitis treatment depends on the severity of the disease and how early you seek treatment.
If you’re suffering from symptoms of peri-implant disease, get in touch with our specialists at Al-FaPerio today to discuss your treatment options.
How can I tell if I have peri-implant disease?
There are a few tell-tale symptoms of an infected dental implant, including:
- Redness and swelling in the gums
- Fever and throbbing pain
- Pus and bleeding
- Bad breath
- Pain when chewing
- Loose implants
If you notice any of the above signs, or have anything else that you’re concerned about, book an appointment with our expert implant dentists as soon as possible.
How is peri-implantitis treated?
Treatment of peri-implant disease varies, and depends on the severity of your condition.
Some treatments include:
- Antibiotics – Your dentist may prescribe antibiotic medication to treat mind cases of peri-implantitis.
- Mechanical debridement – This involves the removal of bacterial plaque and restoration of soft tissue using devices such as titanium brushes, dental curettes, and air-abrasive and ultra-sonic devices.
- Laser therapy – This treatment can be used to eliminate bacteria around the dental implant
Surgical treatment – For the most severe cases of peri-implantitis, surgical interventions such as flap, bone graft and bone regeneration surgery.
Why choose Al-FaPerio for peri-implantitis treatment?
Here at Al-FaPerio, we’re experts in all things dental implants, and have helped many patients suffering from peri-implantitis manage their condition effectively.
We understand that all patients are different, which is why we’ll devise a treatment plan tailored specifically for you to ensure you can maintain your beautifully restored smile.
Our patients always come first, and we do everything we can to make your time in the treatment chair as comfortable and stress-free as possible.
To find out more about peri-implantitis treatment, or to book a consultation with us, contact our team today!
