You invested in a dental implant, and for a while, everything felt great. Your smile looked natural and you could chew comfortably. Life was good. Then something changed. Maybe your gums started bleeding when you brushed. Maybe they looked red or felt tender. Or maybe your dentist in Skokie, IL mentioned something at your last checkup.
If that sounds familiar, you might be dealing with peri-implantitis. It’s a mouthful to say, but the idea is simple: it’s an infection around your dental implant. And like gum disease around natural teeth, it won’t go away on its own. But when caught early, peri-implantitis is very treatable.
What Is Peri-Implantitis?
Your natural teeth have a protective seal where the gum meets the tooth. Dental implants don’t have that same seal. That means bacteria can sneak down around the implant more easily. Peri-implant mucositis is the early stage. Your gums around the implant get inflamed. They might bleed or look red. But no bone loss has happened yet.
Peri-implantitis is the advanced stage. The infection has spread deeper. Now it’s destroying the bone that holds your implant in place. If you do nothing, the implant can become loose and eventually fail. The sooner we catch it, the easier it is to fix.
Warning Signs to Watch For
Some patients notice symptoms right away. Others don’t feel anything until the problem is serious. That’s why regular checkups matter.
Keep an eye out for:
- Bleeding when you brush or floss around the implant
- Red, swollen, or tender gums near the implant
- Bad breath or a bad taste that won’t go away
- Receding gums that expose more of the implant
- A feeling that the implant is loose or shifting
If any of these sound familiar, don’t wait. Call our office.
How We Treat Peri-Implantitis
Treatment depends on how advanced the infection is. At North Shore Perio & Implantology, we start with the least invasive approach and go from there.
- Non-surgical treatment: For mild cases, we deep clean around the implant to remove bacteria and plaque. We may use special instruments designed for implant surfaces. Laser therapy can also help by targeting infected tissue while leaving healthy tissue alone.
- Surgical treatment: If the infection has caused bone loss, surgery may be needed. We lift the gum tissue, clean the implant thoroughly, and sometimes place a bone graft to rebuild what was lost. In severe cases, we may need to remove the implant and replace it later.
- Antibiotics: Sometimes we prescribe antibiotics to help clear the infection. But antibiotics alone won’t fix the problem. They work best alongside professional cleaning.
What You Can Do at Home
Treatment in our office is only half the battle. What you do at home keeps the infection from coming back.
- Brush carefully around the implant: Use a soft-bristled brush and pay extra attention to the gumline. Don’t scrub hard, just be thorough.
- Floss every day: Implant-friendly flossers or a water flosser can reach areas that regular floss misses. Ask us which option is best for your implant.
- Don’t smoke: Smoking slows healing and makes it much harder to fight infection. If you’ve been thinking about quitting, this is a great reason.
- Keep your appointments: We need to check your implant regularly. Small problems are easy to fix. Big ones are not.
Protect Your Implant Today
Peri-implantitis is serious, but it’s not hopeless. With early detection and proper treatment, you can save most implants. You just have to pay attention and act when something seems off.
Your implant was an investment in your smile and your quality of life. Protecting it is worth the effort.
Noticed changes around your implant? Call North Shore Perio & Implantology at 708-834-7080 or schedule an appointment online. We’re here in Skokie, and we’re ready to help.