The American Dental Association (ADA) has asked dental practices to stop performing elective dental procedures and focus on emergency care. This means that most dental implant procedures are postponed. However, there are some circumstances when you might still need treatment related to your dental implant.
Infected Tooth
If you have an infected tooth, it might be best to save the tooth with root canal therapy. For teeth with an infection of the gums and bone around them, gum disease treatment However, sometimes the best decision is to extract the tooth.
Often, it’s a good idea to place a dental implant at the same time we extract the infected tooth. This can improve the appearance of your dental implants, the odds of success for your dental implant, and the longevity of your dental implant. Not to mention saving you time, money, and exposure by consolidating procedures.
During consultation about your infected tooth, we will let you know if this is an option for you.
Infected Implant
Dental implants are immune to many of the problems that face your natural teeth, such as cavities. Bacteria can’t burrow into a dental implant and infect the inside of it. However, they can infect the gums and bone around the dental implant.
If you develop an infection around your dental implant, the gums may become red and inflamed. They might bleed. The dental implant can even become loose. In these cases, which are relatively rare, timely treatment can save your dental implant, or, if the implant can’t be saved, make it easier to replace a failed implant.
Before we schedule an in-person consultation, we might recommend a virtual consultation to consider the best approach.
Broken Crown or Bridge
Finally, the dental crown or bridge on your implant might break. In some cases, this might put your implant at risk or make it hard for you to eat. In these cases, we can prioritize your care, bringing you in to repair or replace your crown or bridge.
We can always craft a temporary replacement, but making a new long-term replacement will depend on the dental lab, which might have different restrictions. This might slow replacement.
Do You Need Emergency Dental Care in Columbia, SC?
Implant dentist Dr. Adam Hahn and his entire staff at Smile Columbia Dentistry is here for your needs. If you feel you have a dental emergency in Columbia, SC, we can help, whether it’s related to your dental implant or your natural teeth.
Please call (803) 781-9090 today for more information.