Don't panic if your dental implant moves. Learn how to tell a loose screw from a structural bone crisis.
When a patient feels a dental implant moving in their mouth, it triggers immediate panic. However, it is vital to understand that a moving implant does not always mean you are losing the fixture.
THE THREE-PIECE ARCHITECTURE OF AN IMPLANT RESTORATION
A standard dental implant restoration consists of three separate pieces: the titanium implant post inside your bone, the custom ceramic crown, and an internal abutment screw that clamps them together.
RECOGNIZE TOP SCREW BACKOUTS
If only the top screw has backed out, the crown will wiggle but you won't feel deep pain or bleeding.
PINPOINT DEEP STRUCTURAL INSTABILITY
If the titanium root itself is moving inside the bone, you will notice swelling, deep pain, and bleeding.
IDENTIFYING THE STRUCTURAL TRIGGERS OF DEEP FAILURE
If the crown is loose, you will feel a click but no deep pain. If the root is failing, the movement is accompanied by deep tenderness, bleeding, or pus. We use digital diagnostics to identify the exact cause.
