You've had your dental implant for years. It's worked perfectly. Then you notice your gum around it looks red. It bleeds when you brush. Something is wrong.
What Is Peri-Implantitis?
Peri-implantitis is an inflammatory condition that affects the tissue around a dental implant. It starts with peri-implant mucositis — inflammation of the gum only. Left untreated, it progresses to the bone supporting the implant.
Think of it as the implant equivalent of gum disease. Just like natural teeth, implants can develop inflammation and infection in the surrounding tissues.
What Causes It?
Bacteria is the main culprit. Plaque builds up around your implant just as it does around natural teeth. If you don't clean it thoroughly, the bacteria irritate the gum and trigger inflammation.
Other factors increase your risk. Smoking, diabetes, a history of gum disease, and poor oral hygiene all make peri-implantitis more likely.
What Are the Warning Signs?
Watch for red, swollen, or tender gums around your implant. Bleeding when you clean around it is a key sign that shouldn't be ignored.
As it progresses, you might notice your implant feeling loose, pus appearing near the gum, or the gum receding to expose the implant thread. In advanced cases, bone loss becomes visible on an X-ray.
Why It Needs Attention Fast
Unlike a natural tooth, an implant doesn't "tighten up" on its own. Once bone starts to disappear around an implant, you can't regrow it naturally. Early treatment is the only way to stop the damage.
The longer you wait, the more bone you lose. Eventually, the implant can fail completely and need to be removed.
How It's Treated
Treatment depends on how advanced it is. Early stages often respond well to a deep clean and improved oral hygiene at home. Your dentist or specialist will clean around the implant thoroughly to remove bacteria from below the gum.
More advanced cases may need surgical treatment to access and clean the implant surface, or to regenerate lost bone. This is more complex and not always successful, which is why catching it early matters so much.
How to Prevent It
Clean around your implant every day. Use a soft toothbrush, interdental brushes, or a water flosser to reach all surfaces. Don't let plaque build up along the gum line.
Visit your dentist regularly. They will check the health of your implant at every visit and can spot problems long before you'd notice them yourself. Professional cleaning helps remove any plaque or tartar that your daily routine has missed.
Don't Ignore Bleeding Gums Around Your Implant
If your implant gum is bleeding, red, or swollen, book an appointment as soon as you can. Early treatment is simple and effective. Waiting could mean losing your implant.
Meads Village Dental Practice
Call 01323 723757 or book at www.meadsdental.com