Six Signs Your Dental Implant Is Infected

Most complications from dental implants come from infections. A common implant infection is peri-implantitis. This type of infection is a form of periodontal (gum) disease that if left untreated can lead to inflammation, bone loss and implant failure. Implant infections are caused by bacteria and can happen immediately after implantation or months or even years later. Furthermore, if your dentist did not use titanium dental implants, an infection can grow due to the poor quality of the implant material used.

If you have dental implants and think they might be infected, look out for the following signs:

1. Bad taste/bad breath: When low-quality implants are infected, they will emit a smell and cause bad breath and a horrible taste. If you taste anything out of the ordinary or your breath does not improve after brushing and flossing, your implant might be infected.

2. Pus or bleeding: If you notice pus or bleeding of the gums or implant area, you’re probably dealing with an infection. Many people only experience bleeding around the gums and implant area when brushing, but this is still a cause for concern.

3. Pain or fever: Most oral bacterial infections are accompanied by pain in the implant area and fever as your body puts up its defences to try and fight off the bacteria.

4. Difficulty chewing: If you do not have titanium dental implants, you may have trouble chewing even if the area isn’t infected. Titanium implants are sturdy and are able to meld with your gums and jawbone seamlessly so that you can still chew as you normally would.

5. Red or swollen gums: Gums that are red and swollen are key indicators of implant infection. If your gums do not appear physically swollen, they may be swollen to the touch.

6. Loose implant: The lesser the quality of implant used, the more potential infection problems you’ll experience. A wobbly or loose implant that feels like it’s going to fall out is possibly infected and needs to be replaced with one that is of better quality.

Contact us immediately if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms. Infected dental implants can lead to serious oral damage if left untreated. We can replace your current implants with titanium dental implants to ensure your mouth is safe from infection.