Bleeding or swollen gums, a bad taste, pus, receding gum, pain when biting, and a loose implant or crown. Early signs are often painless.
Saving Failing Implants – Treatment Options Explained
Concerned about a loose, sore or bleeding dental implant? PureSmile Dental & Implants in Farnham Common explains the five-step path from noticing a problem to saving, rebuilding or replacing an implant.
📍 The Broadway, Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire | 🦷 Dental Implant Care | 🚗 Ample Parking
Few things are more frustrating than an implant that was supposed to be a permanent solution starting to cause trouble. You may have noticed a bit of bleeding, a tender patch of gum, or a crown that no longer feels quite solid. The good news is that there is a clear path for dealing with it, and the earlier you start, the more choices you will usually have.
At PureSmile Dental & Implants in Farnham Common, we see patients from across South Buckinghamshire who want a straight answer about an implant. This guide walks through the five steps from first noticing a problem to getting it resolved, including the treatment options at each stage.
Short answer: Many struggling implants can be saved when problems are caught early, through a thorough clean, surgical treatment or rebuilding of lost bone. Where an implant can’t be saved, it can usually be removed and replaced once the area has healed.
Step 1: Notice – What to Look For
Problems around an implant often begin quietly. Watch for:
- Bleeding or soreness when cleaning around the implant
- Red, puffy or shiny gum
- A bad taste or persistent bad breath
- Pus, or a small spot on the gum
- Gum pulling back so the implant looks longer
- Aching when you bite
- A crown that moves, clicks or feels loose
Pain is often absent in the early stages, so please don’t wait for it.
Step 2: Call – Sooner Is Better
As soon as you notice something, get in touch. Most implant problems are not emergencies, but they tend to progress slowly and silently, and bone that has been lost is harder to regain. Contact us promptly if you have bleeding or swelling, and seek urgent advice from NHS 111 if you develop facial swelling, a fever or feel unwell.
Step 3: Assess – Finding Out What Is Really Happening
We need to see beneath the surface. Your assessment will include:
- A conversation about your symptoms, medical history, smoking habits and any history of gum disease
- A careful examination of the implant, crown and gum, including checking for movement and measuring pocket depths
- X-rays and, where appropriate, CBCT 3D scanning to show how much bone surrounds the implant
- A clear, jargon-free explanation of what we find
The most common finding in implants that have worked well for years is infection around the implant, called peri-implantitis. Its milder form, peri-implant mucositis, affects only the gum and can usually be reversed.
Step 4: Treat – Your Options
Situation Typical Approach Gum inflammation only + Specialist clean, personalised cleaning advice, regular hygiene visits Early bone loss + Non-surgical cleaning and disinfection of the implant surface, close monitoring Persistent infection + Small surgical procedure under local anaesthetic to clean the implant and remove infected tissue Bone lost around a stable implant + Bone grafting to help rebuild support, sometimes with soft tissue grafting to strengthen the gum Loose crown or screw + Repair or replacement of the crown or screw, and a check on why it loosened Too little support remaining + Removal of the implant, healing, and then a new implant, bridge or denture How successful rebuilding is depends on the shape of the bone defect and on keeping the area clean afterwards, so we will be realistic with you about what is likely to work in your case.
Step 5: Maintain – Stopping It Happening Again
Treatment works best when it is paired with a plan to prevent the problem returning:
- Daily cleaning around implants with the brushes we recommend
- Regular check-ups and hygiene appointments
- Stopping smoking, or accepting help to do so
- Good control of conditions such as diabetes
- A night guard if you grind your teeth
- Prompt contact at the first sign of bleeding, swelling or movement
If an implant needs to be replaced, understanding why the first one struggled is key to making the replacement last.
Getting to Us
Our practice is at 1 Ashley House, 1 The Broadway, Farnham Common, next door to Broadway Tyres, with ample parking around the practice. We are easy to reach from the M40 (junction 2) via the A355 towards Beaconsfield, and bus route 74 stops at the Foresters Pub. The nearest rail station is Slough, around 25 minutes away. We are open Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm.
We welcome patients from Farnham Common, Farnham Royal, Burnham, Stoke Poges, Beaconsfield, Gerrards Cross, Slough and the area around Burnham Beeches, including those with implants placed at other practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the signs of a failing dental implant?
Can a failing implant be saved?
Often, especially if caught early. Treatment ranges from a professional clean to surgery and bone regeneration. If it can’t be saved, it can usually be removed and replaced after healing.
Is a loose crown the same as a failed implant?
No. The crown or a screw may have come loose while the implant remains firm, which is often a simpler fix. It still needs prompt checking.
What is peri-implantitis?
An infection and inflammation around an implant that causes loss of the surrounding bone. The earlier, milder stage affecting only the gum is called peri-implant mucositis.
Will treatment hurt?
Treatment is done under local anaesthetic, and we will explain what to expect beforehand.
Can I have another implant if mine has to be removed?
Often yes, once the cause is understood and the area has healed. Sometimes bone grafting is needed first.
Do you see implants placed at other practices?
Yes, we are happy to assess implants wherever they were placed.
How do I protect my other implants?
Clean around them daily, attend regular check-ups and hygiene visits, avoid smoking, control conditions such as diabetes, and treat teeth grinding.
Worried About an Implant? Let’s Take a Look.
The sooner it is checked, the more options you are likely to have. Book an appointment with PureSmile Dental & Implants for a clear assessment and honest advice.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
Puresmile Dental & Implants, 1 Ashley House, 1 The Broadway, Farnham Common SL2 3PQ | 01753 646868
