Causes of Implant Crown Damage and Prevention Tips
Dental implants replace single or multiple missing teeth giving you a beautiful and natural smile. Implants are known to be of high quality, the healthiest, and the most realistic dental restoration procedures. Dental implants can also last for a lifetime if properly taken care of. Implant failure is an uncommon occurrence that many factors can cause. Some of these factors are within our control. Visit our dentist in Los Angeles if you experience an implant failure.
Signs of Dental Implant Failure
Implants have been gaining popularity in recent years. This also means that dental experts will deal with more implant failures and complications. Here are signs that you are experiencing an implant failure.
- Gum Recession
- Chewing difficulties
- Gum inflammation
- Intense pain and discomfort
- Irritation and swelling
- Loose or a shifted implant
We prioritize our patient’s safety at Rosemarie Quimson-Cruz, DMD, Inc. If you are experiencing any of the above signs, contact us for immediate care.
Causes of Implant Damage
Dental implant complications can be determined by an individual’s bad habits, health status, or the dentist who placed the implant. Major causes of a dental implant include:
Peri-Implantitis Infection
This is a common cause of implant damage. It is still an ongoing debate about whether it should be classified as a disease or a dental complication that occurs due to the placement of a foreign material in the oral cavity. Peri-implantitis can infect both the gum and the bone surrounding the implant and lead to bone loss or failure. This condition is treatable but will require an implant replacement. Patients with diabetes, bad oral hygiene, and smokers are highly susceptible to peri-implantitis.
Teeth Grinding
Bruxism is a common problem that affects eight to thirteen percent of people in America. This habit can cause major dental and implant complications such as fracturing of the crown restoration or loosening of the implant screw. Bruxism excessively stresses your teeth and dental implants inserted into your jawbone and gums. Continuous teeth grinding and clenching lead to premature wear and tear of implant restorations.
Nerve Damage
Nerve damage occurs when the dental implant is fixed too close to the mouth’s nerves. This usually happens if you have an inexperienced dentist or if your dentist needs a treatment plan in their practice. Treatment plans help the dentist identify all factors that could affect the implant procedure, such as the ideal position to place the implant in relation to the critical structures of the mouth. Signs of nerve damage include lingering pain or a tingling sensation around the cheek, gums, lips, or tongue. For implant crown restoration near you, visit our dental offices for trained and experienced dentists.
Using Your Implant for Other Purposes
Our teeth obviously exist for chewing, biting food substances, and speech articulation. However, most people use them for unintended purposes, such as opening bottles, cracking nuts, and tearing bags of chips. Using your teeth and dental implants for this purpose will damage, weaken and make them susceptible to infections, which may require replacing them.
Allergic Reaction
There are those cases when patients develop an allergic reaction to the titanium materials used or the abutment. The titanium ions may spread to the surrounding bone and tissues as your implant goes through osseointegration. Those sensitive to it may experience the following:
- Hive on their skin or inside their mouth
- Swelling in their mouth or skin
- Eczema, redness, and itching on the skin or inside the mouth
In severe cases, the patient may develop systemic effects that could lead to necrosis, neurological issues, chronic pain, and other complications.
Preventing Implant Damage
After getting an implant crown restoration in Los Angeles, here are tips on how to prevent them from damaging.
Proper Oral Hygiene Habits
The best way to keep dental implants for a lifetime is to practice proper oral hygiene. Brush your teeth after every meal and floss twice a day. Additionally, use an alcohol-free antibacterial mouthwash to rinse your mouth.
Don’t Smoke
Are you a regular smoker? Then we suggest you cut down your cigarette intake or quit smoking. Smoking is associated with tooth and gum deterioration. In addition, smoking will increase complications and reduce the success rate of your dental implant.
Healthy Diet
Your diet affects your dental implant success. While dental implants mimic natural teeth’ functionality, avoid eating foods that can overtax your implant. Avoid strict baked goods, hard candies, and overly sugary foods that contribute to bacteria growth which can implicate your implant.