Top Hard-to-Miss Signs of Dental Implants Infection
Posted on: 28 July 2020
An infection of, or around dental implants can lead to a host of problems. The most common type of infection is peri-implantitis, which may cause progressive bone loss if not treated in good time, resulting in the implant's failure.
This infection can happen right after your dental implants procedure or much later. However, the signs are the same in both cases and include the following.
Pain and Fever
It can be some discomfort in the area around your dental implants, but in severe cases, you may experience throbbing pain. You will notice that the pain gets worse when you try to chew. This is not to be confused with the slight pain you are likely to feel after the implant placement surgery.
Similarly, an infection is a likely cause if you experience a persistent fever that only keeps getting worse after the surgery. In some cases, shivering may accompany the fever.
Red and Swollen Gums
If the gum area around your dental implants is red or swollen, it's likely because of an infection. In some cases, the gums may not appear to be swollen, but they may be swollen to the touch.
Like pain, swelling is a common side effect after dental implants surgery. The swelling does, however, gradually subside on its own within a few days. You have cause for concern if it doesn't and instead persists for a while.
Bad Taste and Bad Breath
Food that's stuck in your mouth can cause bad breath and leave a bad taste. Your dentist will give you a comprehensive guide on how to properly clean your teeth now that you have dental implants. But when you are confident of your oral hygiene and the problem persists, it may be because of an infection.
Pus and Bleeding
It's not uncommon to experience some very light bleeding at the surgical site after dental implants surgery. This may occur for up to 72 hours post-op, and your dentist will place gauze sponges over the site. An infection will cause the bleeding to persist for longer, and the amount of blood oozing out may be more, and especially after brushing your teeth.
Pus around the implant site is another hard-to-miss sign of infection. Any exudate is not a side effect of the surgery, and you should not ignore it.
Be sure to see a dentist as soon as possible if you notice any of these signs after your dental implants surgery. Timely treatment of the infection will help to prevent early or late implant failure.
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