Emergency Dental Implants Liverpool: What to Do When an Implant Fails at Your Liverpool Dentist
Dental implants are widely considered the gold standard for tooth replacement, boasting a success rate of over 95%. However, like any medical procedure, complications can occasionally occur. Whether you recently had an implant placed or you have had one for years, experiencing pain, looseness, or swelling around an implant is a dental emergency that requires immediate attention from an experienced Liverpool dentist.
At Your Family Dentist in Liverpool, we are equipped to handle complex implant complications. If you suspect your dental implant is failing, ignoring the problem will only lead to further bone loss and infection. Here is everything you need to know about emergency dental implants and what to do if you experience a problem.
Signs of a Failing Dental Implant
Recognising the early warning signs of an implant complication can mean the difference between saving the implant and having to remove it. Contact our Liverpool clinic immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- Severe or Worsening Pain: While mild discomfort is normal for a few days after surgery, severe, throbbing pain that radiates through your jaw or face is a red flag.
- A Loose Implant: A fully integrated dental implant should feel exactly like a natural tooth—completely solid. If the implant (not just the crown on top) feels loose or wiggles when you touch it, the bone has not fused properly.
- Swollen, Red, or Bleeding Gums: Inflammation around the implant site, especially if accompanied by bleeding or pus, is a strong indicator of an infection known as peri-implantitis.
- Difficulty Chewing: You should be able to eat normally with a healed implant. Pain or pressure when biting down requires urgent investigation.
- Fever or Swollen Lymph Nodes: Systemic symptoms indicate that an infection is spreading and requires emergency antibiotic treatment.
What Causes a Dental Implant to Fail?
Implant failures generally fall into two categories: early failure (occurring within the first few months before the bone has healed) and late failure (occurring years after successful placement).
Early Implant Failure
Early failure usually happens because the titanium post fails to fuse with the jawbone—a process called osseointegration. This can be caused by:
- Infection at the Surgical Site: Bacteria entering the wound during or shortly after surgery can prevent the bone from healing around the implant.
- Insufficient Bone Density: If the implant was placed in a jawbone that was too thin or soft without proper bone grafting, it will not anchor securely.
- Excessive Micro-Movement: If the implant is bumped or subjected to heavy chewing forces too soon, the movement disrupts the delicate bone-healing process.
- Smoking: Nicotine restricts blood flow to the gums, drastically increasing the risk of early implant failure.
Late Implant Failure
When an implant fails years after placement, the culprit is almost always peri-implantitis. This is a destructive form of gum disease specific to dental implants. Plaque and tartar build up around the base of the implant, causing chronic inflammation that eventually eats away the surrounding jawbone. Poor oral hygiene, a history of gum disease, and smoking are the primary risk factors for peri-implantitis.
What to Do in a Dental Implant Emergency
If you suspect your implant is failing, follow these crucial steps:
- Call Your Family Dentist Immediately: Do not wait to see if the problem resolves on its own. Call our Liverpool clinic on (02) 9601 7534 and explain your symptoms. We prioritise dental emergencies and will arrange to see you as soon as possible.
- Do Not Wiggle the Implant: Resist the urge to push or pull on the implant with your tongue or fingers. Any movement will cause further damage to the surrounding bone.
- Avoid Chewing on That Side: Stick to soft foods and avoid putting any pressure on the affected area.
- Maintain Gentle Oral Hygiene: Continue to brush your other teeth, but be extremely gentle around the failing implant. You can rinse your mouth with warm salt water to help soothe inflammation.
How We Treat Failing Implants in Liverpool
When you arrive at our clinic, our first priority is to relieve your pain and accurately diagnose the problem using our advanced 3D CBCT scanner. The treatment will depend on the cause and severity of the failure:
- Loose Crown vs Loose Implant: Sometimes, the titanium implant is perfectly fine, but the screw holding the porcelain crown has come loose. This is a simple, quick fix that involves tightening or replacing the screw.
- Treating Peri-Implantitis: If the infection is caught early, we can often save the implant. We will thoroughly clean and decontaminate the implant surface, remove infected tissue, and prescribe targeted antibiotics.
- Implant Removal and Replacement: If the implant has failed to integrate or severe bone loss has occurred, the implant must be carefully removed. We will then clean the area and perform a bone graft to rebuild the jaw. After a healing period of a few months, a new implant can usually be placed successfully.
Don’t Ignore an Implant Emergency
A failing dental implant is a serious issue that requires prompt professional care. At Your Family Dentist, our experienced team is here to provide fast, effective, and compassionate emergency dental care.
If you are experiencing pain or looseness around a dental implant, do not wait. Call our Liverpool clinic immediately on (02) 9601 7534 to book an emergency appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, if caught early. If the issue is a loose crown or early-stage peri-implantitis, we can often treat the infection and stabilise the implant without removing it. However, if the implant is completely loose in the bone, it must be removed.
No. We will ensure the area is completely numb using local anaesthesia before removing the implant. The removal process is typically much faster and easier than the initial placement surgery.
In most cases, yes. After removing the failed implant, we will allow the area to heal and may perform a bone graft to strengthen the jaw. Once the bone is healthy and dense again, a new implant can be successfully placed.
Related: Learn more about dental implants after tooth extraction at Your Liverpool Dentist.