Why Do I Suddenly Notice a Foul Odor Near my Implant Gumline?

I've had my implant and crown for approx 3 years. Just recently when I "rubbertip" the area (which I do daily), the typicaly bit of oozing that occurs has a very foul odor. I saw my dentist who had no concerns but she followed up with my periodontist, who also said he wasn't concerned. I pushed the issue and got an appt to see my periodontist but not for another 2 weeks. Should I be concerned and request a sooner visit? Thoughts on the cause of this odor all of a sudden?

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5 Doctor Answers | Asked by Lynnea6892

Doctor Answers (5)
Community Comments (1)

Cleaning around an implant

When an implant is placed, that's not the end of maintenance. We have many patients on 2-3 month cleaning intervals because sometimes the access is difficult. You could ask your dentist to modify the contour of it so it's easier to get a small brush, floss or waterpik in there to keep it clean.

Problems with a Dental Implant

Foul smell and exudates around a dental implant, or a natural tooth for that matter, is not the norm and needs to be address ASAP. Make sure to see the doctor that placed your implant to make sure that there is no active infection occurring, this can cause the implant to fail even after 3 years. It is probably something that can be addressed very simply, but if you wait it may turn into something that cant be fixed.

Brian Dorfman, MD, DMD

8 reviews

Phoenix Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon

drbdorfman.com

Don't delay seeing your dentist

I hope all is well. Don't delay seeing your dentist. You need to protect your investment in your oral health.

Problem around dental implant

Without seeing you, it can be hard to tell what is happening. The first thing that I would be concerned with is that there in not an infection in the area. This could have the odor you are referring to. Another possibility is a food trap where bacteria is collecting and not being removed. Proper flossing and other cleaning tools can help to remove the bacteria that is contributing to this issue. When you see your dentist and the problem is discovered, ask how you can continue to keep the... more

Foul odor and oozing around dental implant

Foul odor and oozing around your implant may be suggestive of inflammation. Inflammation can lead to further loss of tissue and bone and create implantitis (equivalent of gum disease, but around implants), so it is important to control and treat it as soon as possible. This can be due to food or plaque entrapment, poor hygiene practices, or poor margin on your crown causing difficulty to keep the area clean. A surgeon and your restorative dentist should be able to evaluate this by a... more

H. Ryan Kazemi, DMD

1 review

Bethesda Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon

www.facialart.com

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Comments (1)

willattx 13 Jan 2013

I had the same problem with an implant that started a couple of years after I had it done. An oral irrigator like hydro floss or water pik with antiseptic mouthwash (listerine) or hydrogen peroxide seemed to be the only thing that helped but I still had some smell and taste. Finally I found a dentist that would have the knowledge and confidence to fix it. She did two things: 1. Did research to make sure the screw that previous dentist used was the right one, the wrong screw will screw in but leaves gaps which allow bacteria to grow and cause the nasty taste in your mouth. It was the wrong screw. 2. She zapped the tissue around the implant with an electric device. Not sure what its called. She said the abutment might not have been flush against the implant which could have caused the bacteria to build up as well. Check online for dentists with a lot of implant experience, websites like dr. oogle are good. My dentist is Dr. Grimm in Austin,TX. She's incredible.

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