Peri-Implantitis

For years, patients at Fullerton Dental have received dental implants from our highly trained doctors. Dental implants are among the safest surgeries, and are successful in nearly all cases. But because implants require life-long maintenance, it is occasionally possible for them to fail as the patient’s situation changes. The most common cause of implant failure is peri-implantitis.

Peri-implantitis is when the gum tissue surrounding an implant becomes inflamed. This sometimes occurs immediately after an implant is placed if dental cement leaks onto the gum, but this problem will usually be caught right away, and the cement can be easily cleaned away. More commonly, the gum tissue decays due to normal gingivitis, trapping acids at the base of the implant. Though implants are usually made of a titanium-nickel alloy, they are not immune to acidic corrosion, and their structure can be compromised. The zone at which they fuse with the surrounding bone tissue can also disintegrate, requiring the implant’s removal.

Proper oral hygiene is usually enough to prevent peri-implantitis, but this can be difficult if the patient has a disability or is on a medication which causes dry mouth or otherwise creates a risk of gingivitis. Anybody who notices the area around an implant becoming inflamed should schedule an appointment immediately.

Eric M. Meyer, DDS, operates at 2720 North Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, California, 92835. To schedule an appointment, call 714-879-7943 or visit FullertonDental.com and fill out a contact sheet.