I Chipped My Dental Implant – Is It Serious? What Can I Do?

Dental implants are sturdy and designed to last decades or even lifetimes – in fact, the very first ‘modern dental implant did last a lifetime.

At Bondi Dental, we specialise in dental implants Bondi beach and have experienced dentists who can help you take advantage of this remarkable dental technology.

We can repair your smile and bite, to ensure continued oral and general health.

Dental implants are typically made of titanium and porcelain, to closely mimic the look, feel, and function of a natural tooth.

But implants are not indestructible. Just like your natural teeth, your implants can chip, break, or fall out if they are damaged by trauma or poor care. What happens then?

Tooth implants break?

If you are considering a tooth implant, or have already received one, it is reasonable to wonder how strong the implant is and how durable and long-lasting it will be.

You may wonder if a tooth implant can break or fracture? Are there differences in the strength and potential of damage between the three components – the fixture, abutment, or crown?

If you find yourself wondering where tooth implants break, you might think that it would be the actual artificial tooth (the crown on top) that is most at risk since it is most exposed.

However, breakage, looseness or other problems affect the artificial tooth (crown) and the implant fixture as well as the abutment.

Your dental implant is strong, but with enough force, there is still a risk of trauma, damage, and loosening of the implant.

How are implants damaged?

The first possible damage comes from poor dental technique. If an implant is not properly placed, it can have trouble bonding with the bone, and therefore be more likely to simply work its way out.

Fortunately, at Bondi Dental, we are skilled at implant dentistry, so this should not be a problem. The fact that we properly evaluate the situation and plan your implant helps us prevent this from happening.

Much more likely is a broken crown. This can happen because you bit into something hard or suffered some trauma, basically all the same things that break or damage natural teeth.

This is why you shouldn’t use teeth or implants as tools, to chew on pens or pencils, or to chew on ice.

How are implants fixed?

If the post is broken or out, it needs to be removed and replaced. In some cases, bone grafts may be needed before a replacement implant.

If you need a bone graft, it will be a few months before your replacement implant can be placed in your jaw. We will discuss this a bit more when we get to lose dental implants.

In the case of an abutment breaking, Bondi Dental only needs to replace the broken parts of the implant, not the implant (post) itself.

When a crown cracks or breaks, we’ll take a mould of your mouth in our office. Moulds are used to manufacture crowns that fit the space in your mouth and look entirely natural.

Can you replace loose dental implants? Yes, but the process is complicated by the fact the implant will normally need to be removed.

What is the replacement process?

You will likely need surgery to remove your implant. The area will also be cleaned, and jawbone grafted. This all takes place under anesthesia, so you will feel no pain and little discomfort.

Your recovery often feels very similar to the initial implantation, meaning there may be some discomfort, swelling, and soreness. OTC painkillers, icepacks, and a limited diet can help deal with this.

If you received a bone graft, you need to be careful not to apply pressure to the area. This may mean a more extended period of food restriction.

If one implant is loose or damaged, does it mean that my other implants are in danger?

Most likely not. Dental implants have a success rate of 99 per cent. It is rare enough for a single implant to break or fail, so if one is damaged, your others are likely fine.

If you had an injury or impact, causing an implant to fail, you should have Bondi Dental examine all your teeth and implants, to make sure that the trauma did not affect them.

The best way to ensure your implants stay healthy and that any damage is caught before it can become serious is to see us regularly at Bondi Dental!

The Bondi Dental Advantage

Bondi Dental is in the Eastern Suburbs – Bondi Beach, Bondi in Sydney. Our skilled dental professionals have over 60 years of combined experiences in all fields of dentistry.

We provide high quality dental preventative, restorative, and cosmetic services for all patients in the region.

Bondi Dental has free parking behind our building and offers a FREE Dental Consultation including a complete dental check-up.

We are open seven days a week 8 am – 8 pm!

Dental Implants Offer

FREE Dental Implants Consultation

Call your Bondi dentist on (02) 9365 7187 or book your appointment online. Visit us at 134 Curlewis St in Bondi Beach.