Infection under my teeth implants?

[Jasmine45]

Hello everyone,

I'm seeking for some opinions about my problem regarding teeth implants:
I had teeth implants about 23 years ago, recently while doing a check up with a new dentist, he told me that there is an infection under most of the old implants, as visible in this image below, since bones retreat and cause an empy space for that. I also saw some pus under a loose implant teeth while he was showing me. His solution is brand new implants for fixing the infection causing problem, since the old implants aren't saveable.
Since it wold be a lot of money and pain, I'm a bit esitant and would like to be sure before proceeding and not do unecessary work. Is it true that there is an infection and can be dangerous? Possibly spreading further in the body? Aren't any less invasive solution beside what he proposes?

Thanks to whoever took the time to read and reply!

 

[Dr M]

There are a lot of things happening on this x-ray, so it is difficult to know where to start:

1. You have several areas of infection and the top and the bottom.
2. At the bottom, you have natural teeth attached to implant teeth, which is a big contra-indaction when doing implants. Implants should never be attached via a bridge to natural teeth.
3. You have bone-loss around most implants, which might be an indication of peri-implantitis. The only implants which seem okay is the one on the bottom right and then MAYBE the last one on the top right side.

This is NOT a case that should be treated by a general dentist anymore in my opinion. This will be a combination treatment by a prosthodontist and oral surgeon. I would start by seeing a prosthodontist.

 

[Jasmine45]

There are a lot of things happening on this x-ray, so it is difficult to know where to start:

1. You have several areas of infection and the top and the bottom.
2. At the bottom, you have natural teeth attached to implant teeth, which is a big contra-indaction when doing implants. Implants should never be attached via a bridge to natural teeth.
3. You have bone-loss around most implants, which might be an indication of peri-implantitis. The only implants which seem okay is the one on the bottom right and then MAYBE the last one on the top right side.

This is NOT a case that should be treated by a general dentist anymore in my opinion. This will be a combination treatment by a prosthodontist and oral surgeon. I would start by seeing a prosthodontist.

Thank you for the reply; so it seems that I can't fix the infection with just antibiotics and cleaning, I'll have to re-do all the problematic implants except maybe these fews?

Thanks

 

[Dr M]

Yes, antibiotics is not a solution in this case. You will have to remove all the problem implants-but only after a full evaluation by a specialist. You will also have to split all the bridges that consists out dental implants connected to natural teeth.

 

[MattKW]

Regrettably, I don't see that spending any more big money on this dentition is a good idea.

1. Most of your root canal therapies in natural teeth are quite poor, and some have infection around the roots (yellow arrows).
2. There are a number of implants where the screw threads are above the bone (red arrows) which only leads to infection around the implants. You have no useful bone left to place new implants, and what you do have left is going to waste away.

I would remove everything enclosed by the purple rectangles and pray that the old upper and lower front bridges and lower right implant work for you. If you wanted to replace the missing teeth after extractions, I'd suggest dentures.

 

[MattKW]