Symptoms of dental implant infection and its treatment

The treatment of implant infection is very sensitive and must be done by a specialist doctor. In this article, we are going to examine together the cause, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of dental implant infection

Cause of dental implant infection

The main reason for implant infection is the presence of bacteria. If oral and dental hygiene is not followed well after the implant, bacteria accumulate in the mouth, especially around the implant screws, and cause gum disease and dental implant infection.

In general, infections are caused in two ways, outside or inside the mouth. External infection occurs by introducing a foreign object and contact with the outside environment, and the infection enters the mouth in this way.

Internal mouth means saliva, mucus, tonsils, tongue and gum diseases. Infection can enter the mouth and cause serious damage to teeth and implants.

To prevent this from happening, the symptoms of implant infection should be taken seriously, which we will mention below. Note that implant infection is not limited to a specific period of time and may even happen a few days after tooth implantation or in the following months.

Signs and symptoms of implant infection

Implant infection has different symptoms in different people. If you see any of these signs and symptoms, see a dentist. Symptoms of dental implant infection include:

Bad Breath

One of the most common signs of implant infection is bad breath. If this bad smell does not go away by brushing, it is better to see a doctor as soon as possible. In addition to this smell, the patient may also suffer from an extremely bad taste in the mouth.

Swelling and redness of the gums

Red and swollen gums are other signs of infection that occur due to plaque and tartar accumulation. Even if the swelling of the gums is small, it is still considered as a warning sign and needs to be examined by a specialist.

Fever and pain

Fever and pain in the affected area are signs of bacterial infection. At this time, the sensitivity of the teeth increases and the patient’s body develops fever and chills due to resistance to bacteria.

Difficulty chewing

If the dental implants are healthy and without problems, they will not cause any pain or restrictions for you when chewing. But if eating and chewing food is annoying for the patient, it indicates a problem like an implant infection.

Bleeding or pus

If you have noticed frequent bleeding and pus in your mouth while brushing after the implant, you are probably at risk of bacterial infection. To prevent the infection from progressing, see a specialist as soon as possible.

Looseness of the implant

A loose or loose dental implant indicates that the implant is infected. A specialist doctor can replace the dental implant seamlessly.

Allergic reaction

Materials such as titanium or zirconium are used in making implants. Dental implant infection can be due to the presence of these substances and elements, which happens as a result of the patient’s allergic reaction to these substances.

Aggravating factors of implant screw infection

There are several factors that cause the development and exacerbation of infection in the implant screw. Some of these factors are:

Neglect of oral hygiene

Implants need hygiene and care just like natural teeth. If oral and dental hygiene is not followed well, bacteria accumulate in the mouth and cause infection.

Drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking

Drinking alcohol and smoking prevent the blood flow in the gums and damage the health of the mouth and teeth. This increases the bacteria in the mouth and causes the infection of the dental implant screw.

Presence of gum diseases

Having diseases related to the gums and not treating those causes serious damage to the implant and is one of the causes of implant infection.

Diagnosis of dental implant infection

Timely and accurate diagnosis is very essential in the treatment of dental implant infection and after treatment, it results in a better result.

To diagnose an infection, the dentist first examines your mouth and teeth and looks for clinical signs such as inflammation, bleeding, pus and infection.

The next step in diagnosis is to take a radiograph of the infected implant. The damage done to the bone is clearly visible and recognizable in radiological images.

In the final stages, the dentist uses pre- and post-margin microbial analysis to evaluate the success of different treatment methods.

Treatment of dental implant infection

Never leave the implant infected. Because it worsens over time and causes serious problems, and all the expenses you have spent on dental implants will go to waste.

The best way to treat an implant infection is to see an implant specialist dentist. In addition to specialized treatment methods, following points such as proper oral and dental hygiene can be very useful and helpful. The methods that we will mention below are among the most common methods of treating dental implant infection.

Taking antibiotics

If you go to the dentist after seeing the signs of infection, he will probably prescribe you antibiotics in the first step. But if the infection is severe, the tooth may need surgery.

Treatment of implant infection without surgery

If you go to the doctor on time and before the spread of the implant infection, it can be treated without the need for surgery. In this situation, the specialist doctor cleans the infection site with special devices and rotating brushes. For better results, you can also use topical antibiotics, which must be prescribed by a dentist.

Surgical treatment of dental implant infection

If the implant infection worsens and causes jaw bone degeneration, facial surgery is needed to treat the dental implant infection. At this time, the dental implant usually loosens and the dentist in Canada removes it from the mouth. After a few days, the new dental implant can be replaced with the improvement of the infection.