Dental implants need sufficient time to heal before a prosthetic tooth can be bonded to the implanted section in order to finish the job. This healing time allows osseointegration to take place (which involves your jaw bone fusing to the implant), and you must carefully follow your dentist's aftercare instructions during this time. Even though you might be following your dentist's instructions to the letter, it can be rather frightening when it feels like your dental implant has fallen out. 

Here's what to know about that kind of situation.

A Work in Progress

Until osseointegration has been successful (and the prosthetic tooth is attached), your dental implant is a work in progress. It will have been fitted with a healing abutment at its peak, and this is intended to encourage your gingival tissues (your gums) to heal in a specific way, allowing access to the implant so that a permanent abutment can be fitted, followed by your permanent prosthetic tooth.

The Healing Abutment

A temporary prosthetic tooth can sometimes be utilized, but this is generally only a concern when the gap in your smile would be conspicuous. In many cases, the gap remains for a little while longer (until the permanent prosthetic tooth is fitted). The very top of the healing abutment might be visible, but it will largely be concealed in your gingival tissues. This healing abutment is often the culprit when it feels as though your implant has fallen out during osseointegration.

A Small Piece of Metal

There's only a remote chance of a healing abutment detaching, and it will simply feel as though a small piece of metal has suddenly entered your mouth. Gently remove the healing abutment from your mouth and contact your dentist. The loss of a healing abutment isn't a dental emergency, but it needs to be assessed, and sooner is better than later.

Reattachment

Your dentist will need to reattach the healing abutment without much delay. In most cases, the existing abutment can be repurposed (so be sure to retain a detached abutment). Waiting too long risks improper healing of your gingival tissues. In the absence of the healing abutment, the incision where the implant was placed will heal over. This means that further incisions will be needed to apply the final abutment and prosthetic tooth, which makes the final stages of your dental implant far more invasive than they need to be.

If you should suddenly notice a small piece of metal in your mouth while recovering from dental implant surgery, remember that the implant itself is likely to be fine, and all that has been lost is its healing abutment. This needs to be replaced, but it doesn't mean that your dental implant is experiencing any major issues.

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