Peri-implantitis

Rancho Cucamonga’s Dr. Jia Y. Lee is an experienced provider of dental implants. These prosthetics have allowed thousands of patients to recover their oral health and preserve their facial structure. But implants need to be cared for, and to prevent our patients from needing replacements, we want to educate them about peri-implantitis.


Peri-implantitis refers to inflammation surrounding a dental implant. It could be caused by excessive dental cement, but it is usually bacteria-induced gingivitis that happens to occur near an implant post. When bacteria consume food debris, they excrete acid, which irritates the gums. Decay can easily go unnoticed below the gum line, making the gum pockets an ideal place for bacteria to hide and for tartar to build up. Inflamed gums will turn red and bleed, and if the infection is allowed to progress for too long, the gums, jaw bone, and implant may be eroded.


An implant has to be replaced if more than twenty percent of the jaw bone is lost within the first year of treatment, or if the implant becomes mobile. Given how long it takes for an implant to integrate into bone, this would be a very frustrating outcome. However, implant failure is very rare, and decay can usually be reversed if caught in time. If you have noticed bleeding or gum inflammation around an implant, we encourage you to set up an appointment with us.


Dr. Jia Y. Lee operates at 9477 Haven Avenue, Rancho Cucamonga, California, 91730. To schedule an appointment, call 909-989-5598 or visit MyRanchoCucamongaDentist.com.

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