Replacing a failing implant can involve more pieces than people expect: removal, healing, possibly grafting, a temporary tooth, a new crown. From Georgetown, we help you see every part of the plan before you agree to it.
It is a reasonable thing to ask early, because the answer varies so much. A loose crown might need only a new screw. Inflamed gum might need focused treatment and closer upkeep. Bone loss around the implant could mean removal, a healing period, grafting and eventually a new implant and crown. The first job is working out which of these you are facing.
Taking out the implant and placing another are considered only when the findings show it should not be kept, and they are separate decisions. The reason it failed, the bone and gum available, the tooth that will go on top and your own priorities determine which steps the plan includes.
When you come to us from Georgetown, we begin with an examination, suitable imaging and any records from the original treatment. Then we explain what we found and outline each stage that a given option would involve, including whether a specialist might be part of it, so you are comparing complete plans rather than single procedures.
Let us know when the implant and crown were placed and what has changed. Receipts or treatment records from the first office can clarify which parts are involved.
Movement can stem from the crown, the abutment or screw, or the implant's attachment to bone. Each has very different implications for treatment. Avoid testing it, and when you call, say whether it began suddenly, after an impact, or gradually.
Gum changes near an implant should be examined, even if the tooth stays firm. Describe what happens when you clean there and whether there is discharge. The exam shows whether the problem is limited to the gum or involves bone.
If you have already been told the implant should come out, ask for the findings and images behind that advice. Comparing them with older records helps you understand the change and what the recommended plan is responding to.
A loose crown and a failing implant can feel alike but lead to very different plans. The affected part is confirmed first.
A careful assessment establishes whether the existing implant can be kept or whether removal is the better choice. If replacement is planned, it should include steps to deal with what caused the original problem, because a new implant is not a guaranteed fix on its own.
The interim stage deserves a line in the plan as well. Ask how the space will look and function during healing, and whether a removable tooth or other temporary option is included. Seeing that stage, any extra procedures and the final restoration together lets you weigh another implant fairly against other choices.
Patient information: ITI — assessing implant complications and removal
Ask whether the trouble is with the tissue, the components, the implant's position or several of these. You do not need the terms, but you should understand which part needs treatment and why.
The bone and gum affect whether grafting or extra healing time is required. Ask how those steps fit into the timeline and how they change the overall plan.
Ask for each option to be broken into its stages: removal, grafting, the implant, the crown, any temporary tooth and maintenance. Seeing those parts side by side makes comparing routes far clearer.
Treatment can span several visits and sometimes a specialist. Ask who provides each stage, who you contact at each point, and when the plan will be reviewed.
We look at symptoms, the crown, gum health, stability and appropriate imaging. Implant brand and part details make it easier to see whether a repair is feasible. Mention health changes, smoking, grinding, earlier treatment and cleaning difficulty.
If replacing a component or treating the tissue could solve the problem, that comes first. When removal is recommended, ask why and what alternatives cost in time and stages. A specialist may be involved for complex questions.
If the implant is removed, you will be told about the procedure, risks, aftercare and whether grafting or a healing period is planned. A new implant is placed at a suitable time, not automatically on the same day. The temporary tooth is agreed ahead.
Any new implant is checked before its crown is made, and the crown has its own follow-up. Healing may alter the plan. Ask when normal chewing returns and what ongoing maintenance will involve.
Guidance changes between assessment, removal, grafting and a new implant. Keep each set in writing, with the phone number of the clinician handling your current stage.
Until it is examined, chew elsewhere and leave the tooth alone. Avoid tightening or removing anything. If a crown or part has come off, keep it in a container and bring it; it may help with repair.
After a procedure, follow the guidance on cleaning, food and any temporary appliance. Check before wearing an existing denture over the area. If an instruction is hard to follow, tell us so we can find an alternative.
Reviews check gum, components and the developing restoration. Report fresh movement, discharge or increasing soreness right away. Bring up any cleaning difficulty so the upkeep plan stays manageable.
Patient information: Cambridge University Hospitals — implant care and complications
Ask for the diagnosis and planned sequence in writing, particularly when more than one clinician is involved.
Arrange a visit at our Bronte Street practice. We welcome records, receipts and questions, and will explain what is going on, what else might need checking, and every stage of each option.
Please telephone if an implant is moving, painful or swollen. Online requests are intended for non-urgent questions.
