Foods keep collecting and accumulating underneath the natural teeth or implants and this is quite common. The upkeep of good oral hygiene should routinely check this. But for many, the anatomy of the teeth, its alignment, may pose a challenge to upkeep better oral hygiene despite good oral hygiene practices. So how do the infections around dental implants manifest? Let us find out.

To understand how infections manifest, it is imperative to understand how the food caught underneath the implants or teeth inflames the gum tissue surrounding them. So a basic understanding of how the gum tissue is attached around the implant and natural teeth is important.

Common Points on Gum Tissue Attachment

• The epithelial layer of the gum nearer to the natural teeth or the implants sticks to the surface of the natural teeth or the implants.
• When observed under a magnified microscope, a suction like structure is the one responsible to stick to the surface of the natural teeth or the implants.

Gum Tissue Attachment around Natural Teeth

• In the case of natural teeth, there is a fiber arrangement that emerges from the gum tissue. This fiber emerges as a continuous structure from the periodontal ligament of the teeth. So there is a continuity of sorts to the way the gum tissue and the natural teeth are connected.
• Additionally, a protein called keratin is present in the tissue surrounding the natural teeth. The tissue is thus tougher and flexible. This gives it more resistance to wear and tear.
• Also, any inflammation around the natural teeth gives pain and so is detectable in the early stages too.

Gum Tissue Attachment around Dental Implants

• In the case of dental implants, the fiber arrangement from the gum tissue runs around the dental implants forming a tight adhesion around the implants.
• There is no layer of keratin present and hence though the gum tissues have bonded with the dental implants tightly and firmly, they are less in strength when compared to the bonding between natural teeth and the gum tissues surrounding.
• Inflammation around the dental implants normally does not give any pain and hence early detection is not possible in case the patient is not visiting the dentist regularly.

Infection around Dental Implants

If the gum tissue is healthy and is free of inflammation, the infection around dental implants is absent. On the other hand, if bacterial bio-film accumulates due to the abrasion caused by the food particles on the gum tissues, this may eventually lead to infection accumulation underneath gum tissues surrounding the dental implants (peri-implantitis).

When the tissue is inflamed they are generally less resistant to bacteria and this might cause a buildup. This triggers a vicious cycle and may eventually lead to the destruction of the tight bonding of the gum tissue around the dental implants.

Check the Infection underneath your Dental Implants

Not all the time, you would be able to check the infection underneath your dental implants. You may require professional dental help to clean the infection. That is why regular dental check-up is mandated. If you are wearing dental implants and your teeth alignment makes you vulnerable to infection, then you should never miss your regular dental visits. You need to keep in mind that if the infection is left unchecked, it may cause loosening of the dental implant which can cause bone loss. This bone loss can eventually the dental implant might be lost.