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Saving Failing Implants – Treatment Options Explained

Worried about a loose, sore or bleeding dental implant? Puresmile Reading Dental & Implants explains why implants struggle and the options for saving them, in the heart of Reading, Berkshire.

📍 Market Place, Reading, Berkshire | 🦷 Dental Implant Care | 🚆 5 Minutes from Reading Station

There is a common assumption that once an implant is in, it is in for life and needs no further thought. For many people that is close to the truth, but implants still need looking after, and sometimes they need rescuing. If the gum around yours has become sore, or something just feels different, it is worth acting early.

At Puresmile Reading Dental & Implants, just a short walk from Reading station, we regularly help patients from across Reading and Berkshire who are worried about an implant. This guide separates the myths from the facts and explains the realistic options for saving a failing implant, or replacing one when it cannot be saved.

Short answer: A struggling implant can often be saved if it is treated early. Treatment ranges from a thorough professional clean through to surgical treatment and bone regeneration. When an implant cannot be saved, it can usually be removed and replaced after healing.

Four Myths About Failing Implants

Myth 1: “If it doesn’t hurt, it’s fine.”
Fact: Early problems around an implant are often painless. Bleeding when you brush is frequently the first sign, and it is easy to dismiss.

Myth 2: “A loose implant means it’s failed.”
Fact: Sometimes the implant is solid and it is the crown or a small screw that has loosened. That is usually a simple repair, though it still needs checking promptly.

Myth 3: “Implants can’t get gum disease because they’re not real teeth.”
Fact: The gum and bone around an implant can become infected and inflamed, much like around a natural tooth. This is called peri-implantitis, and it is the most common reason well-established implants run into trouble.

Myth 4: “Once an implant fails, you can never have another.”
Fact: In many cases a replacement is possible once the cause is understood, the area has healed and, if needed, lost bone has been rebuilt.

The Warning Signs

Get in touch if you notice any of these around an implant:

• Bleeding or tenderness when cleaning
• Swollen, red or shiny gums
• A bad taste or ongoing bad breath
• Pus or a small spot on the gum
• Gum shrinking back, so that the implant looks longer or its threads show
• Aching when you bite down
• A crown that clicks, shifts or feels loose

What We Look at First

Treatment depends on what is happening below the gum line as well as above it. At your appointment we will:

• Ask about your symptoms and health, including smoking, diabetes and any history of gum disease
• Examine the implant, the crown and the surrounding gum, checking for movement and measuring pocket depths
• Take X-rays and, where useful, a CBCT 3D scan to see the bone around the implant in detail
• Explain what we find in plain language, with the options on the table

From Gentle to Surgical: The Treatment Ladder

The right treatment is the gentlest one that will work. Think of it as a ladder, with each step used only when the one before is not enough.

Step 1 – Clean and coach. For early gum inflammation, a specialist clean and tailored guidance on cleaning around the implant can restore healthy gums. Regular hygiene visits keep things on track.

Step 2 – Non-surgical treatment of infection. If early bone loss has begun, the implant surface can often be cleaned and disinfected without surgery. The crown may be removed temporarily so we can reach the area properly.

Step 3 – Surgical cleaning. If infection persists, a small procedure under local anaesthetic allows direct access to clean the implant and remove infected tissue.

Step 4 – Rebuild. Where bone has been lost around a stable implant, bone grafting may help regenerate support. Soft tissue grafting can strengthen the gum so the area is easier to keep clean. The outcome depends on the shape of the defect and on how well the area is maintained afterwards.

Step 5 – Remove and replace. If too much support has gone, the safest choice is to remove the implant. After healing, and with bone built up first if necessary using bone grafts or a sinus graft, a new implant can often be placed. We would also talk through alternatives such as an implant bridge or implant-retained denture.

An Illustrative Scenario

Imagine a patient who had an implant fitted several years ago and has noticed occasional bleeding when brushing it. They put it off because nothing hurts. Weeks later, the gum is puffy and there is a bad taste. At assessment, the scan shows some early bone loss around the implant. Because it is caught at this stage, treatment may involve a specialist clean, a short period of focused home care and a review, with surgical treatment held in reserve if needed. Had it been left for another year, the options could well have been more involved. This is an illustration rather than a specific patient, but it is a pattern we see often.

Reducing the Chance of Problems Returning

• Clean around the implant daily with the brushes we recommend
• Keep up with hygiene appointments and check-ups
• Stop smoking, or ask us for help with this
• Manage conditions like diabetes and let us know about changes to your health or medication
• Use a night guard if you grind your teeth
• Report any bleeding, swelling or looseness promptly

Finding Us in Central Reading

Puresmile Reading Dental & Implants is at 9-10 Market Place, around five minutes on foot from Reading station, and close to the Oracle, the River Kennet and Forbury Gardens. We welcome patients from Reading town centre, Caversham, Tilehurst, Whitley, Calcot, Purley-on-Thames, Theale and the wider Berkshire area, including people with implants placed at other practices. Parking in the town centre is limited, so please call us beforehand and we will advise on the nearest options. We are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.

Frequently Asked Questions