An implant tooth that shifts when you chew can be moving at the crown, at a connecting part, or deeper in the support. Our team in Milton works out which layer is involved first, then talks you through a repair that fits what we actually find.
Most people first notice it mid-meal: the implant tooth gives a little, or sits differently once you close. That replacement tooth is only the top layer. Beneath it there may be a connecting component, and below that the implant itself, held in the jawbone. Movement you feel can start at any one of those levels.
So a wobble is a symptom, not an answer. It does not prove the implant has failed, and it is not safe to assume a quick tighten will settle it either. Our dentist needs to find the part that is moving, look at the gum and bone around it, and check whether anything has worn, cracked or bent.
Call our Bronte Street office soon after you notice rocking, clicking or a bite that feels off around the implant. If you kept an implant card or a treatment summary, bring it along. Knowing which system you have, and what was done before, helps the team judge which parts will fit and what should happen next.
A short history helps us prepare for your appointment. Let us know when the crown was placed, whether it has come loose before, and whether the change followed a hard bite, a fall or a knock.
Try not to push it around to see how loose it is. Several different parts can create the same feeling, and repeated pressure can make the situation harder to repair. Simply describe what happened while you were eating or talking.
A new sound or an unfamiliar contact point matters even when you can barely see movement. Note when you hear or feel it, and whether it appeared all at once or crept in over a few days.
Bleeding, puffiness, soreness or any discharge near the implant is worth mentioning. A mechanical fault and a tissue problem can occur together, and fixing the crown on its own may leave part of the issue untreated.
Phone us promptly if an implant tooth is moving. If it comes out, place it and any small pieces in a closed container, and please do not try to put it back in yourself.
If the implant is still firm and the trouble sits in the crown or its connection, it is often possible to repair things without replacing the implant. The examination tells us whether that route is realistic, and which parts or extra steps it would involve.
We also want to understand why it loosened. Fit, the way the connection was made, how your teeth meet, and any earlier repairs can all shape the plan. Feel free to ask how a recommendation deals with what was found, and how we will confirm the result afterwards.
Patient information: Cambridge University Hospitals — implant restorations and complications
Your dentist can show you which part is involved and which parts still look sound. That keeps the conversation grounded, rather than treating every wobble as either total implant failure or a simple loose fitting.
Implant brands and their components differ. Records help confirm what is in your mouth, whether suitable parts can be sourced, and whether another clinician should be consulted or more visits planned.
Ask whether the crown can stay in use, should come out, or needs a temporary solution. The answer depends on the findings, and it should weigh appearance and everyday chewing honestly.
We start by assessing the whole implant restoration. How the crown is attached and what we find decide how it is reached, whether existing parts can be kept, and how much can be done in the same visit.
Your dentist asks about the original implant work, any earlier loosening, what changed recently, and what records you have. When the crown was made at another office, details from that provider can clarify the design.
Hands-on checks, plus imaging when it is called for, help pinpoint the movement and show the condition of the surrounding support. If the crown needs to come off for a closer look, that is explained first.
Treatment may focus on the attachment, a connecting part, or the crown itself. Nothing starts until you have heard what is proposed, what it cannot do, and what it is expected to cost, along with any part orders, lab steps or referral.
The repaired tooth and your bite are rechecked as needed, then home care and any restrictions are explained. Ask which signs should prompt a call, and when stability and gum health will be looked at again.
Instructions vary with the part involved and the repair done. Ask clearly about chewing, cleaning, caring for any temporary crown, and whether to keep wearing a night guard or other bite appliance.
Keep hard and sticky foods away from it while you wait to be seen. Resist checking it with your finger or tongue, and call if the movement grows or the crown feels ready to come away.
Kits sold for ordinary crowns are not designed for implant restorations. Glue, makeshift screwdrivers and parts of unknown origin can damage the system or make it harder for us to reach.
After the repair, let us know about any new looseness, clicking, soreness or bite change. Keep your review appointment even if all feels fine, especially if this has happened before.
Every answer depends on the system, the restoration and what the examination shows. These cover why records and a proper assessment come before any promise about a specific repair.
Get in touch with our Bronte Street practice about an implant tooth that no longer feels steady. We will examine the crown and the support beneath it, explain realistic repair options, and tell you which records or parts may be needed.
Please phone about active movement, pain, swelling or a piece that has come out, and bring any implant records you have.
