Dental implants are a permanent solution for replacing missing teeth, and in most cases, implants will last a lifetime. There is always a chance, though, that an implant could come loose and possibly even fall out. If this happens to you, it's important for you to take the right steps after this happens, and here are some tips to help you handle this situation.

Seek Help

Dental implants are made up of three main parts. The part you see is called the crown, and this part looks like a tooth. This crown is held in place with a titanium abutment, which is secured into the implant. The implant is the third component, and this is the part that is fused into your jawbone. Any of these parts can come loose, which could lead to problems with your implant.

If an implant is loose, the dentist might simply be able to tighten it, which will often fix the problem. If the implant falls out, it may be important to go to an emergency dentist if you cannot get in to see your regular dentist.

When implants fall out, the gums are prone to infection. Food and bacteria can easily get lodged in the hole where the implant was, and if this happens, an infection can begin forming rather quickly.

Options a Dentist Will Use

When you seek help for an implant that fell out, the dentist will do several things, which may include:

• Putting the implant back in place – If the area in the mouth is clean and free from infection, there is a chance the dentist may be able to simply insert it in the same place.
• Installing a new implant – When implants fall out, it is often because they were installed in ways that were not proper, or because there are problems with a person's mouth. In cases like these, the dentist may need to install a new implant in a slightly different place. With this option, you may have to wait until the gums have healed more, or until the infection is gone.

Dental implants are successful 95% of the time, but there are times when dental implants should not be used. For example, if a dentist inserted an implant into your mouth when there was not enough jawbone to support it, there is a good chance that it will fail.

For more information, contact Tijeras Dental Service or a similar location.