Smelly implant

Sorry to be gross, but I recently had an implant done to replace one of my lower pre-molars. Everything went well and the restorative phase was completed a few months back. Unfortunately, since this phase was completed, I have begun to notice an odor coming from the implant. The odor will be there for a week or two and then subside and then will start up again.

I have not been able to track a predictable pattern or anything. I can just tell you that it isn't always a problem. I sometimes get a little reprieve. I am not in any type of pain at all. As a matter of fact, my implant crown came out recently and my dentist x-rayed me to be sure everything was ok. He said the screw and the gum look wonderful.

I am just so terribly self-conscious about this problem and have tried extra flossing, extra brushing and very expensive mouthwashes "guaranteed" to cure breath issues. Nothing really helps! I don't even want to kiss my husband!!! If I gently push on the gumline surrounding the implant, I can taste and smell whatever it is. I also smell it on the floss I am using. Any advice or suggestions?

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Smelly implant

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Same problem....
by: Anonymous

I'm having the same problem with one of my implants so would be very interested in any response. I brush regularly, use mouth wash, interstitial brushes, floss and still have the same problem as described above.

I keep explaining to my dentist but she just pokes the implant, says it's fine but doesn't give me any help or advice on how to deal with the problem.

Failing implant
by: Anonymous

You probably have an infection. Have doctir take x- ray. The implant is probably failing.

Infection
by: Anonymous

Although I am always fearful of infection, it seems doubtful. My implant crown actually fell out recently and had to be re-cemented. Prior to having the crown put back in, I was x-rayed.

The dentist said everything looked beautiful. The odd thing is that the problem comes and goes - it is not happening all the time. The whole thing is an endless source of frustration and embarrassment.

That funk is not your imagination
by: Anonymous

This happened to me too.

The gum is tender and may bleed a bit right? For me, there was a little too much cement in there. It collected bacterial and putrified. I was finally able to (hold on to your chair) gently insert my nail under the gum and slide the thin sheet of cement down along my tooth. The smell made me gag! THAT was even more horrible than what I had been experiencing. Have your dentist take it out and look at the pieces of cement in there. There was too much cement. They need to properly clean and disenfect the implant, post, screws, and your gum. My dentist took another impression and sent the implant back to be re-porcelained. Thank Goodness! He put it back -- himself this time. And made sure to floss properly to get the additional cement out.

I floss regularly and use a waterpic on it's gentlest setting a few times a week with weak peroxide mixture or saline mixture to gently irrigate and clean that area. Much better now. Xylitol is good too. For your mouth, teeth and sinuses. It helps to strengthen and kill odor.

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