Implant Rescue

Dental implants have become the most popular option to replace missing teeth. In a majority of cases, implants are successful and cause no issues after healing. However, in some instances, problems occur, and your implants can fail. Not all failing implants need to be replaced. At Implant and Periodontal Wellness Center of Arizona, we can perform perioscopy to rescue failing implants.

What Causes Implant Failure?

Even if your jawbone is deemed sufficient for dental implants, there are some cases in which they can fail before they even have a chance to heal. Reasons for implant failure include:

•	Improper placement. If your implants are placed improperly at the time of surgery or placed in an area where there is insufficient bone mass, the implant can become loose, or even break.
•	The bone does not fuse with the rods. For implants to be successful, your jawbone needs to fuse with the rods. In rare cases, for whatever reason, the bone just does not fuse, resulting in loose implants that can fall out.
•	Peri-implantitis. Peri-implantitis is an infection of the implant. It can be caused by some different factors and can lead to a loss of supporting bone.

Peri-Implantitis

Peri-implantitis is an infection of a dental implant. It can be caused by a variety of different issues such as:

•	Smoking.
•	Certain health conditions.
•	Grinding.
•	Poor alignment.
•	Poor oral hygiene habits.

In several instances, peri-implantitis exhibits no symptoms. However, in some patients, it can produce symptoms like:

•	Swelling of the gums.
•	Irritation and redness around the implant.
•	Bleeding gums near the implant.
•	Sensitivity around the site.
•	Your gum pockets may become deeper, and the threads of the implant may become exposed.

Perioscopy

Perioscopy is a procedure that involves using a small dental endoscope under the gumline. It is minimally invasive and completely non-surgical. The endoscope is equipped with a light and camera that projects an image onto a monitor. The endoscope can also zoom in, providing us with an up-close view of everything going on under the gums. Typically, perioscopy is used to treat gum disease without surgery, but it can also be used to treat implants failing due to peri-implantitis.

Treating Peri-Implantitis With Perioscopy

With perioscopy, we can help to save your dental implants without the need for surgery, or total replacement. After diagnosing peri-implantitis, which can be done with dental technology such as a cone beam CT scan (producing a 3D image), we can begin treatment with a periscope. We will start by giving you a local anesthetic. Next, the periscope is placed below the gums near the implant. The camera attached to the endoscope allows us to get a clear picture of what is happening around the failing implant. We can use the periscope to find the infection and clear it away. The periscope can eliminate the need for surgery.
Click here to read more about Perioscopy.

Failing implants need to be addressed as soon as possible. If you have noticed signs of an infection, or suspect there is something wrong with your implants, contact Implant and Periodontal Wellness Center of Arizona to schedule your appointment today.

Office Hours

Monday	8–5
Tuesday	8–5
Wednesday	7–4
Thursday	8–5
Friday	8–12

Closed for Lunch	12–1

Contact Us

4455 E. Camelback Road
Suite #E-100
Phoenix, AZ 85018

(480) 504-0506