Dental Implant Repair Miami

Dental Implant Repair in Miami, FL – Dr. William P. Lamas

Today, one of the best ways to replace lost teeth is with dental implants. Dental implants can last a lifetime; nevertheless, on rare occasions, an implant fails, which can be devastating. However, Dr. William P. Lamas is an experienced Dental Implant Specialist who can address issues related to implant fixture failure and prosthesis repair or replacement.

Dental Implants Repair Before & After Photos

 

Dental Implant Repair in Miami: What Can Dr. Lamas Address?

If the Aesthetic Portion of an Implant Fractures, is Dental Implant Repair Possible?

Yes, some type of dental implant repair to address the aesthetic portion of an implant is possible. During your dental implant repair consultation, Dr. Lamas will examine your tooth to determine if he can successfully bond the fracture. If he cannot fix the fracture, he can replace the crown itself.

If a Dental Implant is Loose, Can it be Replaced?

Yes, if the implant fixture itself loosens, Dr. Lamas can perform a dental implant repair to address this. If you notice that your implant seems unstable, it is vital that you contact Lamas Dental Specialists in Miami right away to schedule a dental implant repair appointment. Attempting to diagnose the problem yourself could lead to additional problems, including gum irritation and damage to your jawbone.

An Appointment with Dr. William P. Lamas for Dental Implant Repair

During your appointment, Dr. Lamas will ask about your medical history: If you are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medications, please inform him of this at this time as well as any allergies you have to medications, or latex.

Your dental history is also important, particularly as it relates to your dental implant(s). If you have any previous dental X-rays available, please have them with you when you arrive for your dental implant repair appointment. Dr. William P. Lamas may want to view them. Depending on when the X-rays were taken, he may decide to take new ones as well.

Dr. Lamas will examine your mouth and evaluate the health of your mouth as well as your dental implant(s) to determine if implant repair is the best way to proceed.

Dental Implant Repair: The Most Common Problems

As previously mentioned, dental implant failure is rare; however, if an issue does arise, there are a few problems that would be considered as common reasons for failure.

Common reasons for implant failure include:

• the aesthetic prosthesis (crown, bridge, denture) may crack or fall off; or
• the implant fixture itself may become unstable.

What Causes an Implant to Become Loose?

A loose implant may occur because the osseointegration process was never completed. Osseointegration is the term used to describe the process of the implant fixture (titanium or metal free) fusing with the jawbone.

What Exactly is the Osseointegration Process?

When osseointegration is successful, over a period of several months, bone builds around the implant. This built-up bone makes the implant fixture just as secure as a tooth’s natural root. However, if this process never completes, the implant may loosen.

Another factor that determines the stability of a dental implant fixture is the density and strength of the jawbone.

Are There Any Signs Indicating That Osseointegration Failed?

If the implant fails to fuse with the jawbone, the patient may experience difficulty chewing, the implant may feel loose, uncomfortable or fall out, altogether.

What Causes Osseointegration to Fail?

This issue can occur due to insufficient bone density, trauma, infection and poorly positioned implant fixtures: When implant fixtures are poorly positioned, there may be too much pressure being placed on a single implant.

What Would Cause the Jawbone to Become Thin and Weak?

Gum disease or infection can deteriorate the jawbone, causing it to become thin and weak. If this happens, the implant may loosen. If you seek treatment right away, Dr. Lamas may be able to perform a dental implant repair procedure to address the issues causing the implant to fail.

What Are the Signs of Gum Disease?

The signs of gum disease include red gums that appear inflamed and bleed easily. Furthermore, if a toothache develops, do not hesitate to visit a Dental Implant Specialist who performs dental implant repairs on a regular basis. A toothache is typically a sign of infection. If the infection is not addressed early on, the jawbone could be negatively impacted. Should you notice any of the signs associated with gum disease, please contact a dental specialist as soon as possible.

What Causes Insufficient Bone Density?

Certain medications negatively impact the bone’s ability to heal itself. For example, the medications frequently prescribed to treat osteoporosis are not beneficial to the bone-healing process. Therefore, Dr. Lamas recommends that his patients inform him if they take these medications. Depending on the circumstances, patients may be able to speak with their physician about discontinuing these medications for a short period of time: Just long enough to allow their implant fixtures to integrate with their jawbone.

Please keep in mind that patients should never discontinue taking their prescribed medication without first speaking with the prescribing physician.

What About Bone Deterioration?

Peri-Implantitis can cause inflammation of the bone and gum surrounding an implant. When inflammation occurs, the bone begins deteriorating. This deterioration can lead to a loosening of the dental implant fixture. Issues that increase the likelihood of an individual experiencing peri-implantitis include diabetes, poor oral hygiene, exposed bones, smoking, thin gums and a compromised immune system.

Addressing an Infected Implant

Antibiotic therapy is promising; however, to be effective, the infection must be recognized and treated with antibiotics early on. Since peri-implantitis can go unnoticed and undetected for years, this condition can be difficult to recognize.

Symptoms of Peri-Implantitis:

• A bad taste
• Halitosis (bad breath)
• Pain in the gums
• Abnormal bleeding along the gumline
• A discharge of pus from the gumline (closest to the implant in question)
• Irritated and/or inflamed gums
• Gums appear discolored (purplish blue or red)
• An unstable implant or crown

At Lamas Dental Specialists in Miami, Dr. Lamas offers a variety of techniques specifically designed to address loose implant fixtures: Patients who are good candidates for these treatments will not need to undergo surgery.

What Happens During a Dental Implant Repair Session in Miami?

At Lamas Dental Specialists in Miami, patients receive anesthesia during their dental implant repair surgery. At Dr. Lamas’ Miami office, a patient may receive IV sedation, local anesthetic or nitrous oxide (i.e., laughing gas).

The procedure that Dr. Lamas performs depends on the portion of the implant that is being repaired.

Dental Implant Repair for a Loose Implant at Lamas Dental Specialists in Miami

The Failing Implant is Removed

If it is the implant fixture itself that has failed, several steps must be taken.
First, during an outpatient surgical procedure at his office in Miami, Dr. Lamas will remove the failing implant. Once he removes the loose implant, he will clean the area so that he can view the patient’s jawbone.

If Necessary, a Bone Graft is Performed

If the jawbone appears thin and weak, the need for a bone graft is likely. At this point, Dr. Lamas will go ahead and perform this portion of the dental implant repair.

What Does a Bone Graft Accomplish?

If the patient’s dental implant fixture loosened because of a lack of jawbone density (i.e., the bone was too thin), replacing the implant without correcting this problem is impossible. Once Dr. Lamas completes the bone graft procedure, the patient will need to wait until the graft has healed before moving on to the next step of the procedure.

A New Implant Fixture is Placed

After several months have passed, the bone graft has healed and Dr. William P. Lamas can complete the dental implant repair procedure by placing the new implant fixture, and the crown.

Dental Implant Repair for a Crown

If the synthetic tooth (dental crown) is cracked, chipped, has fallen off or is damaged in any other way, Dr. Lamas should be able to replace or repair the crown without any concerns related to the implant fixture itself (titanium or metal free). Many times, Dr. Lamas can repair a crown while it remains attached to the implant fixture.

If the crown has fallen off, even if it is in pieces, please bring it with you to your dental implant repair appointment at Lamas Dental Specialists in Miami.

If, for any reason, he is unable to salvage the crown, Dr. Lamas will order a replacement crown for you. In a case such as this, there is no need to remove the implant fixture itself; therefore, once your custom-tailored dental crown arrives, it will be secured to the original implant fixture.

Recovering from Dental Implant Repair Surgery: What You Should Expect

Patients should expect to have symptoms similar to those experienced during their first dental implant procedure: For example, soreness, inflammation and discomfort are common.

Patients can combat the inflammation and soreness through the use of an ice pack. The ice pack can remain on the inflamed area for 10-15 minutes at a time (every hour). Patients should keep in mind that the ice must be wrapped in some type of cloth; otherwise, there is a risk of damaging the skin. In addition, patients can take ibuprofen to reduce the swelling and decrease pain. Another way to address swelling is through the consumption of cool, soft foods.

Patients who had a bone graft performed need to be mindful about not applying pressure to the treated area; therefore, food restrictions may last longer than they did with their initial dental implant procedure.

A Follow-Up Appointment for Dental Implant Repair in Miami

At the follow-up appointment, Dr. William P. Lamas will inform the patient about continued dietary restrictions (if any).

If One Implant Fails, Will All of Them Fail?

Since the success rate of dental implants is nearly 100 percent, the likelihood of another implant failing is extremely small. That said, if an injury of some kind caused the current failure, patients should have all their teeth examined to ensure that the rest are still perfectly intact.

Well-Maintained Dental Implants Offer Patients Longevity

At Lamas Dental Specialists, we know that when you chose to have dental implants placed, you made an investment in your smile: Let us help you repair and then maintain your dental implants so they will provide you with years of reliable use.

On many occasions, when a problem arises with an implant, it is something minor that can be easily corrected. Furthermore, by seeking treatment quickly, you may reduce the likelihood that you will need costly dental implant repairs. If you notice that your dental implant(s) feel odd in any way, contact Lamas Dental Specialists today at 305-440-4114 to schedule a Dental Implant Repair appointment.

Our office is located at 2645 SW 37th Avenue, Suite 304, in Miami, Florida.

 

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