Had my dental implant for about 3 years now, but lately it's been feeling kinda weird—like a dull ache and sometimes feels loose when I chew. Anyone else had something similar happen?
Hmm, after 3 years it's pretty unusual for an implant to suddenly start feeling loose. Could it be something else going on nearby, like gum inflammation or even sinus issues? I've had patients come in convinced their implant was failing, but turns out it was just minor gum irritation from food getting stuck or even grinding their teeth at night. Have you noticed any changes in your bite or maybe started clenching your jaw more than usual lately?
Also, sometimes the crown part can loosen slightly without affecting the actual implant screw. It feels weirdly similar—like it's the whole implant—but it's usually a simpler fix. Might be worth checking with your dentist to rule that out before worrying too much.
I had something similar happen about two years after getting my implant. Freaked me out big time because it felt exactly like the whole thing was loose. I spent days googling worst-case scenarios (bad idea, btw). When I finally went in, turned out it was just the crown that needed tightening—took like 10 minutes tops. Still, I'd definitely get it checked sooner rather than later... peace of mind is worth it.
Had a similar scare myself a while back—felt like the implant was shifting every time I bit down. Of course, I spiraled into a Google rabbit hole and convinced myself I'd need major surgery or something (never trust Dr. Google, lol). Turned out it was just inflammation around the gums causing that weird sensation. Dentist cleaned it up, gave me some tips on flossing better, and it settled down pretty quick. Definitely worth a quick check-up for peace of mind though...
Had something similar happen last year—felt like my implant was doing a little dance every time I chewed on that side. Freaked me out big time, especially since implants aren't exactly cheap. Turned out I'd been grinding my teeth at night without realizing it, and the pressure was causing inflammation around the implant. Dentist gave me a night guard (super attractive, I know...) and things calmed down pretty quickly after that. Might be worth checking if you're unknowingly grinding or clenching too.
