A few days or weeks after the implant procedure, we sometimes get frantic calls from patients saying that their dental implant fell off. Many times, patients are unaware of what exactly fell out.
What Most Patients Are Really Experiencing
Most of the time, it is the upper attachment — the healing abutment screw — that’s fallen off, not the actual implant. It is rare for the actual dental implant to fall out. When the patient comes in with a fallen abutment screw, we discard the one that’s fallen off and simply attach a new one with more tightening. We advise patients to not eat anything hard or use that side of the mouth to chew until the implant is healed.
When the Dental Implant Really Falls Out
As mentioned, this scenario is rare. Most patients mistake the healing abutment screw for the dental implant itself. The entire dental implant coming off can be painful and involve bleeding. In this rare case, the dentist will start antibiotics to prevent infections. In such cases it is usually determined that the patient’s body is rejecting the implant, and the dentist may suggest a dental bridge instead.