If the abutment on an implant crown has come loose, do I have to pay for the crown to be removed and replaced?

Question

My Dentist, who placed the implant crown and abutment about 4 years ago is telling me the abutment is loose and he will have to take the crown off, tighten the abutment and then make a new crown. He is telling me I have to pay for the new crown. Is that correct? I feel like I paid a lot of money for what was supposed to be a permanent tooth. Please tell me, am I wrong??

Ronald Konig DDS · Answer

There are numerous reasons that an abutment can come loose.  A very common one is that the implant has been placed at an angle as opposed to being straight.  This horizontal force can cause the screw to loosen.  Many times a small opening can be drilled in the chewing surface or on the back side of the crown to get access to the screw and it can be simply retightened.Other reasons the screw can come loose could be due to a bad bite.  It  is very difficult to assess what has happened through an email.  Perhaps ask your dentist about trying to make a small opening and retighten the screw.  This is not always possible on the front teeth as sometimes the screw access can be in the front of the crown.I hope this helps.

Vicki Borowski, DDS · Answer

Unfortunately nothing in dentistry is "permanent". You have functioned on this implant for 4 years. Forces placed on the crown and the screw can cause failure of the parts. An other way to look at this is the ask why you had the implant placed to begin with.You were born with a tooth that filled the place where the implant is currently placed. This tooth is natures most ideal way to fill the space yet your tooth failed for some reason. The implant and crown are not nearly as perfect as what nature created. There may be forces that are being placed on the implant that are causing excessive stresses on the implant parts and failure. Or this could just be bad luck. Your dentist may be able to drill a hole in the top of the crown and tighten the screw through the crown, saving the crown. If this doesn't work it will be your responsibility to pay for a new crown. Another way of looking at this is to consider this maintanence just like you replace moving parts on a car as they wear out.

German Arzate, DDS - Account Suspended · Answer

if your doctor, did not make a crown that has chimney so the final crown is screw retained to the implant, this is one of the must common errors of doctors, all crowns must be able to be torched if they get loose, if your doctor did not give you the option to decide, its his fault, and now you should ask for a crown with chimney, this are the must effective crowns,the only area where you cannot place them or it can be more difficult is in far posterior, if you cannot open big your mouth, but if not, of course this is the best solution.cascabel abutments, and crown perform with chimney, the best option in implant dentistry.doctors do not need to argue with the patient years after if they come loose, and you can have great follow up.

If the abutment on an implant crown has come loose, do I have to pay for the crown to be removed and replaced?

Answers (3)

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Dental Crown

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

If the abutment on an implant crown has come loose, do I have to pay for the crown to be removed and replaced?

Answers (3)

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Dental Crown

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.