The Existing Dental Implant Exam
- the current thinking and treatment of mobility in dental implants is different than teeth. this is because the attachment of implants to the body is different.
- Any clinically discernible mobility in a restored dental implant is an emergency and must be treated as such. Anything over a scale 0 must be treated. There is not a healthy implant or implant restoration that has ANY clinicaly / manualy felt mobility.
- Mobility is actually measured in implants using a periotest device. These measure subtle implant movement in the bone to measure how much bone actually holds the implant.
the three cardinal signs of implant failure:
– mobility
– pain
– radiographic evidence
If an implant crown or abutment ever feel loose to the patient or you can find any mobility – this has to be addressed.
Treatment as follows:
- X-ray and manual exam
- Removal of crown and abutment
- Inspection of implant for mobility without restoration. If mobile – refer to implanting surgeon.
- Replace and re-tighten the abutment to company specific torque with torque driver
- place Teflon tape in screw access hole
- Re-cement crown with dental implant specific cement
