Gum disease? Don’t splash out on costly implants

GROWING numbers of people opting to replace loose or decaying teeth with implants should consult an independent periodontist first, warn experts.

That’s because while dental implants should last decades, if you have gum disease it can affect the effectiveness of the implant.

Peter Galgut, a recently retired periodontist, says he has treated many patients with ‘failing’ implants, with some becoming loose within one to two years — and sometimes within months — of being inserted.

And implants aren’t cheap. They can cost from £2,000 to £5,000 for a single tooth or £16,000 for a full set of upper or lower teeth.

Gum disease erodes the supporting tissues of the teeth, causing damage to the jawbone that supports the tooth’s roots.

When that happens, the original tooth becomes loose and eventually falls out — the same happens with dental implants, explains Peter Galgut, a former director of University College Hospital’s School of Dental Hygiene and a senior research fellow at Eastman Dental Institute.

‘Severe gum disease and bone erosion can continue even after an implant has been inserted. It can become loose and may have to be replaced.’

Another problem is that untreated gum disease can lead to infection, which also loosens the implant.

Half the population is thought to have gum disease or periodontitis, according to the British Society of Periodontology and Implant Dentistry. Signs include bleeding or receding gums, bad breath, plaque underneath gums and the formation of periodontal pockets, spaces around the teeth under the gumline.

Before having an implant, patients should insist on having a full periodontal examination at each dental check-up, says Peter Galgut — and a dentist or hygienist should carry out intensive ‘scaling’ to get rid of any plaque to eliminate the risk of infection.

‘Gums must be in pristine health before agreeing to dental implants,’ he says. ‘If not, periodontal disease will begin to infect the gums surrounding the implant, causing it to eventually loosen.

‘If patients are uncertain whether to have implants, they should tell the dentist they require a second opinion, preferably a referral to an independent periodontist.’

Luigi Nibali, a professor of periodontology at King’s College London, says periodontitis is treatable — the bone around teeth can be preserved, thus keeping teeth long-term and avoiding implants (it’s also possible to re-grow gum and bone around teeth).

‘After all, what can be better than your own teeth?’ he adds.