Bridge Smiles Dental Group P.A.

Friday, September 28, 2018

Peri-Implantitis

Implants make dental restorations much more reliable, but they need to be cared for like natural teeth. At Bridge Smiles Dental Group in Somerset County, we want patients to be able to recognize inflammation around an implant and why it is important. The fate of their teeth could depend on it.


Gum inflammation around an implant is known to dentists as peri-implantitis. There are a few possible causes, including exposed dental cement and an autoimmune disorder, but the most common is a gum pocket infection. The part of the tooth below the gum line is difficult to clean and can become a home for decay-causing bacteria. Acid produced by bacteria sticks to the tooth’s tartar, causing it to damage the surrounding gums. Gums experiencing decay bleed, swell up, are tender, and turn red. If the decay gets bad enough, they can lose mass, as can teeth, the jaw bone, and the implant post.


An implant should be fully integrated into the jaw bone and never move. If it comes loose, or enough jaw bone tissue is lost, the implant has to be removed. Since the integration process can take a while, this would be unfortunate, but it is nearly always preventable. If a patient notices that they have inflammation around an implant, they should call for a cleaning as soon as possible.


Drs. Meghadri and Grewal run Bridge Smiles Dental Group at 820 US Hwy 202 North Neshanic Station, NJ, and 15 North Bridge St. Somerville, NJ. To schedule an appointment, visit Bridge Smiles Dental.

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