Did a Dental Implant Literally Leave a Bad Taste Inside Your Mouth? You May Have an Infection

Jul 24, 2017

Any kind of surgery has the potential for a complication to occur. This is true with oral surgery procedures like having dental implants installed. One complication to be aware of is how an infection can cause dental implants to fail. Be aware of these symptoms and treatments to deal with an infection.

Infection Signs

You will actually be able to tell you have an infected dental implant by the smell or taste in your mouth. It helps to pay close attention to the implant immediately after the procedure and take note if either if these two things are occurring. If you do notice a smell or odd taste, thoroughly brush and floss your teeth to make sure that the odor or smell is not caused by any food that is stuck in your mouth.

An infection can also be identified by looking at your gums. Look for any redness or swelling that has been getting worse over time. While swelling is normal to have immediately after the procedure, the peak of the swelling should occur within 48 hours. The swelling should only get better after that, not worse.

In addition, look out for problems such as a loose implant, throbbing or discomfort around your implant, a dull ache, fever, or bleeding around your implant when brushing.

Infection Treatments

Treating an infected dental implant will vary based on how soon the infection occurs.

Within 2 weeks

An infection within 2 weeks of your surgery is common and easy to treat. Your dentist will prescribe you an antibiotic that should treat the infection and prevent it from spreading further. You may also be prescribed a mouth rinse that will help keep the area clean.

Not treating an infection at this stage runs the risk of having it spread further into your body, so be sure to have this complication looked at immediately.

After 2 Weeks

Your infected implant will be more difficult to fix as time has progressed since your surgery. Ignoring the problem could cause your dentist implant to fail in some situations.

Your dentist may still want to fight the infection using an antibiotic. Once the infection goes away, adjustments can be made to the crown to prevent bacteria from getting into the implant. For instance, a small gap located between the titanium post and the crown can be a breeding ground for bacteria. The crown will need to be removed, the area cleaned, and the crown put back on the implant with adjustments made to fix the gap.

If the infection is located where the post meets the jawbone, a dentist may have to remove the titanium post in order to treat your infection. This sort of infection also causes a lot of pain and various health complications.

Implant Care

The best way to prevent an infection from happening to your dental implant is to take good care of your teeth. While a dental implant is a fake tooth, it still needs to be cared for as if it is a real tooth. Continue flossing, brushing, and using mouth rinses to keep everything clean.

Pay special attention to the area where the implant comes in contact with your gums. While your implant is fine initially, receding gums could cause a gap to form where bacteria can grow. Be sure to brush along the gum line to agitate the gums and clean out bacteria that could be hiding underneath.

Catching problems early on is key to avoiding an infection. P A Daniel Jr DDS specializes in dental implants, and can assist you with any concerns related to infections or post-surgery care.

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