Dental Implant Restoration in Minneapolis & Minnetonka, MN

If you have difficulty with your dental implants, call us and schedule an appointment with our Minnetonka or Minneapolis, MN, dental office. It is critical that we examine your dental implant right away and that you do not try to self-diagnose the problem. This can lead to further irritation and dental challenges. We can let you know if you need a dental implant restoration and the best way to proceed during an examination.

How common are dental implant problems?

They are very rare. At Holger Dental Group, we recommend dental implants because of their high success rate. Depending on the dentist you visit, the success rate can be as high as 99 percent.

If there is a problem, your dental implant can become loose, or the crown (tooth portion) could crack or fall off. If a problem does occur, we will repair the damage and efficiently fix the situation.

Why do dental implants become loose?

If your implant has become loose, it may be because osseointegration never took place. Osseointegration is the process where the titanium implant fuses with the actual jawbone. The body deposits bone around the implant for several months and secures the implant in the same way it secures the natural root. If that process does not fully complete, your implant could become loose in the future. Additionally, the stability of your implant depends on your jawbone remaining dense and strong. If you develop gum disease or an infection that deteriorates your bone, the implant could become loose and fail. This makes it important to call our dental office if you notice any signs of gum disease, which may include red, swollen, and bleeding gums. If you develop a toothache, visit our office for treatment right away. Doing so will prevent you from developing an infection that negatively impacts your jawbone.

What do I do if my dental implant has become loose?

Call us right away. The implant will not tighten on its own, nor will the problem correct itself. If you attempt to self-diagnose and treat, you can end up damaging your bone.

What does dental implant repair involve?

That depends on which portion of the implant we need to repair. If the actual tooth (dental crown) is cracked or damaged, we can replace it without addressing the actual implant (titanium post). If your tooth falls out, bring it with you. Otherwise, we can examine it and tell you if we can repair the crack or chip without removing the crown. Holger Dental Group views this as the best-case scenario since it is the fastest way to restore your implant and the least invasive. If the crown needs replacement, the dental lab will create a new one for us to attach to the abutment on your implant carefully.

If your actual implant fails, that is a whole new process that can take up to four steps. The first step is to carefully remove it, which may require surgery. Then depending on the condition of your jawbone, a bone graft may be necessary. If your implant becomes loose due to a lack of density, not correcting the problem will make it impossible to replace the implant. You will need to heal from this procedure before placing a new implant, essentially starting the procedure all over again. If you face this scenario, we can discuss the various options available to you in further detail.

How do you treat a fractured dental implant?

If the tooth portion of your implant has fractured, we will examine you and let you know if we can restore it using bonding material. If we cannot, then we will have to replace the crown.

Can you replace a loose dental implant?

Yes, if the actual implant becomes loose, we will typically need to remove it. We will then need to clean the area and complete a bone graft if necessary. We can place a new implant after the healing process.

What will the replacement process be like?

You will likely need surgery to remove your implants, clean the area, and graft the jawbone. We will complete this procedure under anesthesia to not feel anything during the actual treatment. However, your recovery period may feel very similar to when we first placed the implant. There will be some swelling, discomfort, and soreness. To combat this, you can use an ice pack for fifteen minutes at a time, take ibuprofen and eat cool soft foods for several days. If you also went through a bone graft, you will need to not apply pressure to the area.

In some cases, your food restrictions may last slightly longer than before. You will be given the green light to return to your normal dietary habits during a follow-up examination. One thing to keep in mind is that if you do need a bone graft, it is likely to take six to nine months for the graft to be complete to have a new implant placed. At that point, the process will be identical to when you had an implant placed for the first time.

Will my others do the same if one implant becomes loose or fails?

Probably not. Dental implants have a success rate of 99 percent. It is incredibly rare for a dental implant to fail, so your others should be fine if one does. The only difference is that if you had an injury that caused an implant to fail, you should have all of your teeth examined to make sure that none of the rest is damaged.

Do you handle all types of dental implant restorations?

We can conduct an initial examination and identify the problem and its extent. This will involve a physical examination along with X-rays so that we can determine the density of your jawbone. At that point, we will let you know if we can assist you or if you need to be referred to a specialist. At Holger Dental Group, our focus is on your complete oral health and ensuring that you have access to the procedures you need. To learn more, call our dental office today.