When dental implants are initially placed, they might feel a bit loose because the bone has not yet formed around the implant to stabilize it. However, if the implant remains loose after the healing period, it may be at risk of falling out.
There are several reasons why this can happen:
Infection: If there isn’t enough bone to initially stabilize the implant, it can result in “micromovement.” For example, if there was an abscess on the tooth before extraction, and the infection wasn’t entirely cleared out, it can linger in the bone. Normally, the body’s immune system can clear the infection, but in some cases, the bacteria may remain in the bone.
Later, when the implant is placed, the remaining bacteria can interfere with the normal healing process or “osseointegration” as described by Professor Branemark. As a result, the healing process is delayed, and while your body fights the residual infection, it struggles to bond the bone around the implant.
Another source of infection could be gum disease. The extracted tooth might have been perfectly healthy, but it became loose due to gum disease.
Insufficient Healing Time: Dental implants should not be placed prematurely. The bones need time to heal and form around the fixture. If the process is rushed, the dental implants can become loose and eventually fall out.
Poor Quality Materials: Low-quality products can cause issues in the delicate tissues surrounding the implant, potentially leading to the body rejecting the dental implant.
Loose Components: If any part of the dental implant becomes loose, infection becomes a concern. This happens when bacteria and debris get trapped between the fixture and the tissues, weakening the bone and causing the dental implant to fall out.
