While dental implants can restore the look, function, and health of a patient’s smile, some people experience peri-implantitis in Oak Brook, IL after they are placed. When people have peri-implantitis, they will want to protect the health and longevity of their dental implant so they can continue to live their life normally.
Want to learn which symptoms indicate when people have peri-implantitis? Continue reading to learn which symptoms indicate when people have peri-implantitis.
The Symptoms That Show I Have Peri-Implantitis
Because peri-implantitis in Oak Brook, IL poses a serious dental concern, its common symptoms should never be overlooked by dental implant patients. Some of the more typical signs of peri-implantitis include:
- Swelling of the gums around the dental implant
- Pus coming from around the dental implant
- Tenderness around the dental implant
- Bleeding around the dental implant
Dental implant patients with peri-implantitis will very rarely have any physical discomfort in the early stages of the infection. They may start to feel pain when peri-implantitis reaches more significant levels or spreads to other parts of their mouth.
Peri-implantitis is not a condition that will go away on its own or with at-home oral care. It must be diagnosed and treated by a professional periodontist who is well-versed in resolving cases of peri-implantitis in dental implant patients.
What Exactly Causes Peri-Implantitis?
The gums are an important part of a person’s overall oral health system. They play many roles, including protecting the teeth and tooth roots. Since dental implant posts are specifically made to act like natural tooth roots, the dental implant post will also require the protection of healthy gums. When gums are exposed to bacteria build-up in the form of plaque, they can begin to break down due to infection.
Left untreated, this infection will begin to destroy the gums and damage tooth roots and bone. When the infection happens around a dental implant, the condition is known as peri-implantitis. Though a dental implant cannot be destroyed by bacteria because it is made from inorganic titanium, the organic structures (e.g., gums, bone, and existing teeth) around it are put at risk.
How Can Peri-Implantitis Be Treated?
The treatment for peri-implantitis is similar to the treatment for other types of oral infections, such as gum disease. The periodontist will use advanced dental lasers and leading-edge protocols to sanitize the patient’s gums, remove any diseased tissues, and encourage the gums to reattach to the area around the dental implant.
If the bone has been significantly damaged due to a long period of untreated peri-implantitis, a bone grafting procedure may be necessary to save the dental implant. If a dental implant must be removed, a new dental implant can often be placed after the periodontist has identified and resolved the reason for the infection.
See Us Now So We Can Treat Your Peri-Implantitis
When you come to our caring and dedicated practice, we can identify and treat your peri-implantitis. Why wait to improve your smile with us? Get in contact with Dr. Amarik Singh and our exceptional team at our Periodontal Implant Associates office to schedule an appointment today!
