If you think that dental implants and crowns can’t get diseased, then you’d be right. Titanium implants and ceramic crowns can’t develop infections like in the same manner as regular teeth, but the bone and gums around them sure can. These diseases occur when bacteria latch onto the dental implant or base of the crown and cause inflammation.
There are two distinct diseases that can affect the tissue surrounding the dental implant and crown. The most common one is peri-implant mucositis, which is a fancy way of saying inflammation of the gums around the dental implant and crown. This differentiates from regular gum disease because this type of inflammation only happens at the site of the implant, and not necessarily around other teeth.
The second disease that affects dental implants is peri-implantitis. In addition to gum inflammation, this also causes bone loss around the dental implant. If this disease progresses too far, the implant may lose its stability and fail.
When you get dental implants, be sure to follow the post-operative cleaning instructions and visit the dentist for check-ups in order to stop any potential disease in its tracks.