Many people understand dental implants to be a permanent solution for replacing missing teeth and rightly so. Once the new implant has healed and feels secure, it is easy to imagine that it will stay that way without much effort. Indeed, in most cases dental implants do last for a very long time, but they still rely on healthy gums and bone. When these are affected by inflammation or infection, problems can develop quietly in the background. One of the conditions we take most seriously is peri-implantitis, and understanding what it involves can help you avoid trouble later.
A dental implant replaces the root of a missing tooth. It bonds to the bone, and a crown sits above the gum line. Even though the implant feels like a natural part of your mouth, the body does not treat it in exactly the same way as a natural tooth root. The gum tissue still forms a protective barrier, but the seal is a little different, and this can make the area slightly more vulnerable to bacterial build-up.
Peri-implantitis is inflammation around an implant that has reached the supporting bone. Before it reaches that stage though, the tissue may go through a more superficial phase called peri-implant mucositis. That early stage is usually reversible if cleaned properly. Once the bone is involved, the situation becomes more complicated and needs careful management.
One of the challenges with peri-implantitis is that many people don’t feel much of an issue at first. Some will notice a little bleeding when brushing, perhaps, or a gum that looks a touch swollen, but others feel nothing at all. A small change in colour, a slightly puffy area, or a bit of tenderness when chewing can be brushed aside as something temporary. Occasionally a patient will say that the implant area just feels ‘different,’ even if they can’t explain exactly how.
Because the symptoms can be vague in the early stages, regular check-ups at the Smile Dental Practice Bromley are really important. Dentists and hygienists can check gum depths, look for inflammation, and compare bone levels over time. These routine reviews often pick up changes long before they turn into noticeable problems.
The main culprit is plaque. If plaque gathers around the gum line and is not cleaned away, bacteria can irritate the tissue. Around natural teeth this leads to gum disease, and around dental implants a similar process occurs. The difference is that implants do not have the same natural ligament, so once inflammation takes hold, the supporting bone may be affected more quickly.
A few factors make peri-implantitis more likely:
None of these mean that problems are inevitable, but they do increase the risk.
Professional cleaning around teeth implants is slightly different from cleaning around natural teeth. Hygienists use equipment that will not scratch the implant surface, and they may show patients which tools work best at home. Even patients who brush well can miss small areas around the threads of an implant crown or under a bridge.
Our dentist will check that the dental implant remains secure and stable and that the gum around it looks healthy. They may also use X-rays from time to time to make sure the bone is stable. Prevention is much easier than treating advanced peri-implantitis, so these reviews matter far more than many patients might realise.
If the condition is caught in the early stages, the aim is to reduce bacteria and calm the inflammation. This might involve a professional clean, adjustments to your brushing routine at home, and sometimes the use of medicated rinses. When the bone is already affected, more involved treatment at our Bromley clinic might be needed. This could include cleaning the implant surface beneath the gum or, in certain cases, using regenerative techniques to try to rebuild lost bone.
Not every implant with peri-implantitis can be saved, but many can. The key factor is how early the problem is discovered.
Daily care is the most powerful way of protecting an implant. Brushing twice a day, cleaning between the teeth, and using tools that reach the awkward spaces around the implant make a huge difference.
Drinking water regularly, keeping sugar intake sensible, and managing any conditions that affect gum health all help as well. Patients who smoke are encouraged to stop or at least reduce their smoking, as this alone can dramatically reduce the risk of peri-implantitis.
Dental implants are comfortable and feel very natural, which is why it is easy to forget that they still rely on healthy tissues surrounding them. Understanding peri-implantitis does not mean worrying about it every day, but it does encourage a bit more awareness. A small amount of daily cleaning and routine check-ups make a huge difference in keeping an implant healthy.
If something feels unusual, whether that be bleeding, swelling, a strange taste, tenderness, or even an unexplainable change in how the implant feels, it is always worth having it looked at. Early intervention keeps most implant problems manageable and helps ensure your implant remains strong for many years.
For more information about having implants to replace a missing tooth, or teeth, please contact the Smile Dental Practice Bromley for more information. You can do this via the form on our website or by calling us on 020 8462 2473.
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