In August 2020, my dentist finished my full-mouth reconstruction, including five implants, seven crowns, and veneers. Two of the crowns on my natural teeth fell off last week, and I have an infection around three of the five implants. My gums are swollen around the implants, and chewing hurts. My dentist relocated last December, and I cannot find a listing for his new dental office. I am anxious about finding a new dentist to reattach the crowns and worried that I would need to repeat the full-mouth reconstruction. Where do I begin? Thank you. Baldwin from CT
Baldwin,
Thank you for contacting Dr. Szarek’s office.
We are sorry to hear about your stressful experience. You can benefit from an exam and a 3-D CT scan to identify the cause of your discomfort. Also, a skilled restorative dentist can determine why your crowns have fallen off.
What Causes Dental Implants to Hurt When You Chew?
Dental implants can hurt when you chew if you have an infection around the implants. Usually, the condition is a form of gum disease that can lead to dental implant failure. Signs and symptoms of infection include:
- Bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
- Bleeding around the implants
- Difficulty chewing
- Loose implants
- Pain, aches, or discomfort around the implant
- Pus around the implants
- Red or swollen gums
- Visible implant threads
Treatment for Infection Around Dental Implants
Depending on the cause and extent of infection around dental implants and the quality of your dental implants, treatment options may include:
- Antibiotics
- Antimicrobial therapy
- Laser therapy for your gums
- Surgery
- Implant removal, bone grafting, and implant replacement
Find a Skilled Implant Dentist
Look for dentists with advanced implant and cosmetic dentistry training. Dentists who restore implants but do not perform surgery partner with an oral surgeon or periodontist for implant surgery. Dentists with post-graduate cosmetic dentistry training are skilled at identifying the cause of faulty crowns and restoring dental implants.
We recommend scheduling consultations with two advanced cosmetic dentists to discuss your options.
Lowell, Massachusetts, accredited cosmetic dentist, Dr. Michael Szarek, sponsors this post.