Check your symptoms

If the gums around your dental implants become inflamed, if they start to look swollen, if they turn reddish in colour, and if they start to bleed, you may be suffering from peri-implant disease. Other possible symptoms include a loosening of the implant, bridge, or dentures, and bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth.

There are two forms of peri-implant disease:

• Peri-implant mucositis, which affects the mucous membrane around the implant.
• Peri-implantitis, a more serious condition where there is bone loss around the implant).. 

If you have any of these these symptoms, make an appointment with your dentist or periodontist as soon as possible. It is important to note that peri-implant diseases can develop and damage tissues and bone much more rapidly than is the case with periodontitis.

On top of that peri-implantitis is usually much more difficult to treat than periodontitis.

The earlier that peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis are detected, the better are the chances of successful treatment. But better still is preventing disease in the first place, through correct oral hygiene and regular professional cleaning of teeth, implants, and gums.