Gum Disease and Implants

A dental implant is a big investment, and we want to make sure you get the most out of it. At the South Carthay dental office of Dr. Suzanne Haeri, we provide implant-supported crowns to patients who are looking for a permanent solution to missing teeth and who want to rebuild their jaws and facial structure as well as their smiles. Dental implant placement has very high success rates, and implants usually last for years. But there is a situation in which they could be in danger, which is why we want our patients to be able to recognize peri-implantitis.

 

Peri-implantitis is what we call it when the gum tissue around an implant post becomes inflamed. In the months following an implant’s placement, it will fuse with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration. In order for fusion to be successful, there has to be sufficient bone mass to begin with, and the bone cannot continue to recede. But acid-secreting bacteria may colonize the gum pocket surrounding an implant, just as they do the gum pockets surrounding natural tooth roots. If this happens, their acid may erode the implant post and the bone, preventing the implant from stabilizing. If an implant cannot integrate or a previously integrated implant becomes loose, it has to be removed.

 

Peri-implantitis looks similar to typical gum inflammation. The gums may be red, swollen, and sore, and they may bleed when the patient brushes their teeth. Peri-implantitis can be stopped by a deep cleaning if the patient seeks help quickly enough. We carefully monitor implant patients during the integration process to ensure they are not suffering gum infections, but once osseointegration is complete, we rely on patients to come to us if they begin having problems. Maintaining regular oral hygiene appointments will help ensure gum pocket infections are caught before they become severe.

 

The dental office of Suzanne Haeri, DDS, is located at 1100 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, California, 90035. To schedule an appointment, call 310-657-2200 or visit our website at Suzanne Haeri DDS.