Nowadays, dental implants are commonly placed not only in adults but also in young people. However, there are occasions when these patients may suffer infections, known as periimplantitis.
Do you want to know exactly what this implant infection is and how to treat it? Pay attention to everything we’re going to explain in this post.
What is periimplantitis?
It is an infection that occurs in the oral cavity, affecting the gum and the bone support of the installed implant.
When talking about this problem clinically, we define it as “a clinical condition that includes inflammatory lesion of the peri-implant mucosa and loss of peri-implant bone”.
Periimplantitis is defined as an inflammatory process that affects the tissues surrounding an osseointegrated implant in function, causing bone support loss (Scielo).
What are the symptoms of periimplantitis?
As we mentioned, this infection affects the gum and the tissues surrounding the integrated bone, so when determining a diagnosis, certain symptoms appear.
- Redness of the gum tissue surrounding the implant.
- Bleeding and/or surpassing of the probing performed when placing the implant.
- Pain on touching the implant and its surroundings.
- Accumulation of tartar and plaque around the implant.
- Mobility of the implant.
- Oral discomforts such as pain or swelling.
- Bone loss in the support bone as evidenced by X-ray.
If you have one or more of the symptoms mentioned above, don’t panic. Call us and at Clínica de periodoncia Antonio Liñares, we’ll take a look at the condition of your mouth and your implants to give you a diagnosis.
Causes of periimplantitis
If you wonder what causes periimplantitis, you should know that there are many factors that can lead to the appearance of this problem. Some are unrelated to the patient, while others stem from the patient’s health status or other diseases. Let’s see the main causes:
- Previous periodontal diseases: There are patients who are more prone to develop periodontal diseases. These are not related to their hygiene habits, but rather the structure and morphology of their teeth enhance plaque accumulation, for example. If you are one of those people prone to developing gingival problems, periimplantitis problems may appear if you get implants. In that case, at Antonio Liñares, we always recommend periodic visits for reviews to confirm that everything is fine.
- Poor or insufficient oral hygiene: Oral hygiene is important for the entire population. But especially in people with dental implants. In the event that a daily routine is not followed, problems will arise, and one of them will be the appearance of periimplantitis, as with other gingival infections. To prevent its appearance, daily oral hygiene will be important: brushing properly using even special products and tools for implanted people and accompanying it with a prophylaxis treatment in a dental clinic every 4 or 6 months. As you already know, prevention is the best way to keep any type of infection in the oral cavity at bay.
- Excessive alcohol consumption and smoking: We previously discussed the relationship between tobacco and alcohol consumption once the tooth implantation process is carried out. Although it is not one of the most direct causes, the chances of infection proliferation multiply. Therefore, daily hygiene and periodic review are important.
- Poor implant installation: This is one of our basic premises: always go to an expert when you need dental treatment. In this case, given the complexity of the intervention, more than ever. Poor placement of an implant is one of the risk factors for periimplantitis to appear. Above all, work with first-rate pieces and entrust yourself to a specialized implantologist.
- Diabetes: we also previously commented on how diabetes affects periodontitis. And it is not surprising that this disease influences the appearance of periimplantitis. The lesions in the bone surrounding the implants produced by the infection bacteria do not regenerate equally in patients with this disease, due to their high blood glucose levels. Therefore, it is very common for a high percentage of people with periimplantitis problems to be diabetic. To avoid this problem, strict control of glucose levels in diabetic people should be ensured.
Tips to prevent periimplantitis
We cannot give specific guidelines to guarantee the prevention of this disease. However, with the tips we’re going to provide below, you’ll reduce its occurrence.
- Take care of your dental health. Maintain proper oral hygiene to prevent the occurrence of periimplantitis. Brushing your teeth, using mouthwash, and flossing are all things to consider to prevent potential problems with your implants.
- Avoid tobacco and alcohol consumption. If you can’t eliminate these habits, reduce them as much as possible. Keep in mind that tobacco smoke irritates tissues, decreases blood supply, delays healing, and increases the likelihood of infection. And alcohol increases the appearance of bacterial plaque.
- Schedule dental cleanings: Schedule regular check-ups with your implantologist to ensure that everything is going perfectly and take advantage of them to have dental cleanings.
- Choose an experienced implantologist: Always rely on a professional. This way, you’ll always reduce possible complications.
Do you have any other questions? Do you want to know if you have periimplantitis or need treatment for a dental implant in A Coruña?
If you have dental implant(s) in your mouth, by following your professional’s recommendations, you can prevent the occurrence of this infectious disease. If you see that you start to notice symptoms, don’t let the days go by and always call your specialist. At Clínica de periodoncia Antonio Liñares, we are always at your disposal.
On our website, we have a section on advanced implantology, where you have varied information and we answer frequently asked questions about treatments, with examples of clinical cases.
Don’t forget our podcast San Andrés 90 on Cadena Ser A Coruña, where this month we talk about the different types of implants that exist, how the fixation process is, and advances in healing techniques to achieve the perfect denture.
You can listen to it on:
If with all that information you still have any doubts or need to ask us more personal and specific questions, or arrange an appointment to treat a periimplantitis problem in A Coruña, you just have to contact us at:
- Our email: info@antoniolinares.com
- Through the phone: 881 968 034
- Or visit us at our clinic: San Andrés 90, A Coruña.