Dental implants are increasingly popular alternatives to bridges, crowns, and even dentures. They’re permanent, and they look and feel just like your real teeth. However, things can and sometimes do go wrong, so it’s important to know what you should do if your dental implant fails.
#1 – Stay Calm and Call Your Dentist
First and foremost, you shouldn’t panic if your implant breaks or comes out. These things can and do happen, and dentists are able to repair it without much fuss. You should first contact the dentist who worked on you, since this person understands your unique medical history. Even if it is after hours, he or she should be able to call you in some meds for the pain and swelling or refer you to an emergency dentist.
#2 – Know Your Body Will Heal
Your body is very efficient at healing itself, and this is especially true of the inside of your mouth. There are special enzymes in your saliva that can expedite the healing process, so even a problem as significant as this is not a permanent issue. Your wound will need to be cleaned and re-grafted, and while it might seem complicated, it truly isn’t. Dentists fix implants all the time, and your body will recover quickly.
#3 – Understand the Repair Process
Because dental implants require bone grafts, it’s important to accelerate the healing process as much as possible. Different dentists use different techniques, but the Choukren aka “PRF Process” is by far the best! It involves using a protein-rich plasma that speeds the rate of graft healing significantly. What would typically take up to six months to heal should take about half the time.
#4 – Don’t Pay for the Replacement or Repair
Dental implants typically come with a lifetime warranty, which means that you should not be held responsible for paying for the replacement or repair. However, many of the offices that provide you with such a warranty will require you to come in every six months for routine cleanings and examinations, and if you’ve failed to keep up with those appointments, your warranty may be void. If you’ve met the requirements, though, you should never have to pay for your repair or replacement.
#5 – If You’re Traveling, Do Some Research
Finally, if you need to have one or more implants repaired while you are traveling and unable to get to your dentist, it’s still in your best interest to call your dentist. He or she can give you sound advice and perhaps even a recommendation of where to go. Google local dentists specializing in implants and read Yelp or Google+ reviews for more information. You may even be able to reach a local dental society who can give you the names and number of dentists who can get you in immediately.
Although a broken or lost implant can certainly be bothersome, there’s no need to panic. It’s not as uncommon as you would think, and your dentist can help you with the repair or replacement free of charge as long as you’ve come in for your regular cleanings and exams.