What To Do If Your Implant Crown Fractures, Comes Loose, Or Falls Off

Posted on: 4 July 2016

A fractured, loose, or lost implant crown can be alarming, but fortunately it is rarely painful unless some sort of outside trauma accompanied the damage. While you will need to see your dentist as soon as possible for a fix, you will also need to know what to do in the interim. The following guide can help.

Fractured implant

Fractures or cracks usually happen because of an outside stress. For example, biting down on something hard, like a popcorn kernel, can fracture an implant. Although strong, most implants aren't quite as strong as your natural teeth. This means that anything that could break a real tooth can also break an implant.

If fracturing occurs, avoid chewing on that side of the mouth. You don't want the crown to break apart. Also, be gentle when brushing and flossing around the tooth. If there is a rough edge that is irritated, purchase some dental wax from the pharmacy. Warm a small amount by rolling it between your fingers and then smooth it over the rough area.

Loose implant crown

At first, a loose implant is just a nuisance. Yet it can quickly lead to a broken implant--or gum irritation--and damage to neighboring teeth. In some cases, it isn't even the crown that is loose, but the implant post itself. In this case, the implant is actually failing, which could lead to bone loss or a bone infection.

For these reasons, it's important to schedule a dental visit right away. Until you can get it, avoid chewing on that side of your mouth and resist the urge to wiggle the implant. You don't want to loosen it further before it has been seen by your dentist.

Lost crown

If the crown falls off, try to save it. Your dentist may be able to reattach it to the implant post, depending on why it came off. In some cases, it is as simple as the cement holding it on to the attachment screw failing. A quick cleaning and new cement is all that is needed. Otherwise, your dentist will need to make a new crown for the implant, but the old crown can help them match the shape.

An implant without a crown isn't usually irritating on its own. Irritation can occur, though, if part of the implant is still attached or if the attachment screw is still in the post. In this case, use dental wax as detailed above to smooth over the irritant until you get in to see your dentist, such as John P Poovey DMD PC.

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