Why does a tooth on an implant come loose?
Usually it is not the implant that is loose but one of the parts on top of it. An implant tooth normally has three parts: the implant in the bone, the connector screwed onto it (the abutment) and the visible crown. If the screw holding these parts together loosens, or the abutment or crown shifts, the tooth feels loose. How the parts work together is explained in our guide on the parts of a dental implant.
The systematic review by Do and colleagues (2020) divides problems after the teeth are fitted into biological ones, such as inflammation around the implant, and mechanical ones, such as fractures of components. A loose tooth is usually a mechanical problem and can usually be repaired. If the implant itself is loose, however, its bond with the bone may have been lost; that is more serious.
Is it the implant or the restoration on top that is loose?
Only a dentist can tell for certain, with an examination and an X-ray. Some signs give clues, though:
| Situation | What you notice | How serious |
|---|---|---|
| Loosened screw | The tooth turns slightly or moves minimally; sometimes a click when biting | Usually repairable; left untreated, the screw can break |
| Loosened cemented crown | The crown moves on the abutment or comes off | The crown can be re-fixed or replaced |
| Broken abutment or screw | Marked mobility or the tooth comes off completely | The fragment has to be removed from the implant |
| Chipped ceramic | No looseness; a sharp edge or missing piece | Small: polishing; large: a new crown |
| Loose implant | Implant, abutment and crown move together; often pain, swelling or discharge | More serious; the bond with the bone may be lost |
Cleveland Clinic lists a loose or wobbly implant, together with swelling, bleeding and pus, among the signs that should prompt a call to the dentist. What happens if the implant itself is loose is explained in our guide What happens when a dental implant fails?
How common are loose screws and fractures?
Such problems are not rare. The review by Webb and colleagues (2017) in Dental Update summarises long-term data:
- Screw loosening within five years affected 12.7 percent of single crowns compared with 5.8 percent of bridges on several implants.
- Abutment screw fractures are rarer: about 0.35 percent for single crowns and 1.5 percent for fixed implant bridges over five years.
- Ceramic chipping affected 11.9 percent of fixed implant restorations over five years, compared with 2.8 percent of tooth-supported bridges; one 20-year study found 28 percent affected.
- Fracture of the implant itself is rare, at around 1 percent.
How long implants last overall is covered in our guide How long do dental implants last?
What causes the loosening?
According to Webb and colleagues, the main reasons for screw loosening are:
- a screw not tightened enough when the tooth was fitted
- overload from the design of the restoration or from habits such as clenching
- faulty components
Grinding and clenching (bruxism) play a particular role. In the meta-analysis by Ionfrida and colleagues (2025), bruxism is classed as a probable risk factor for mechanical problems in implant crowns and bridges. The NHS explains that grinding can wear down and crack teeth and loosen fillings, and names a custom-made mouth guard or splint worn at night as a possible measure.
What should you do straight away?
As soon as you notice looseness, these steps help prevent further damage:
- Do not chew on that side: every load on a loose screw raises the risk of fracture. Stick to soft food until the tooth has been checked.
- Do not wiggle the tooth: moving it with your tongue or finger loosens it further.
- Keep any detached parts: rinse the crown, abutment or screw and store them in a clean, closed container; their condition helps in planning the repair.
- Do not glue it yourself: adhesives from the pharmacy are not suitable; only a dentist can check whether the part sits correctly and the screw is intact.
- Book an appointment soon: even without pain, and take your implant card with you.
If there is swelling, discharge, fever or increasing pain, act faster. If your face swells rapidly or you have difficulty swallowing or breathing, go to an emergency department immediately.
What should you do if the tooth comes loose once you are home?
Most loosening happens months or years after treatment, when you are long since back home. Send us a photo of the tooth and a short description on WhatsApp at +90 532 363 49 54; that lets us judge whether it is the screw, the crown or the implant and discuss the next steps with you. If you have acute pain or swelling, or may have swallowed or inhaled the part, a dentist or emergency dental service near you is the first port of call; let us know as well.
The General Dental Council (GDC) advises asking before treatment abroad what aftercare is provided, who you can contact afterwards and who pays for extra flights, accommodation and remedial work. For a repair at home, the local dentist needs your implant card and treatment records; they say which system is in your mouth and which parts fit. Whether your crown is screw-retained or cemented is also in your records and determines how easily it can be removed; the difference is explained in our guide Screw-retained or cemented.
For problems not caused by the patient, our treatments come with a warranty on defined terms; we explain its scope and exclusions before treatment starts. If a correction covered by the warranty requires a return visit to our clinic, we cover your travel costs. How care after your return is organised is described on our page on aftercare and follow-up.
How is the loose tooth repaired?
The repair depends on the cause. First the tooth is examined and, where needed, X-rayed to assess the screw, the abutment and the bone around the implant.
- Screw-retained crowns: the small screw channel is opened, the screw checked, retightened or replaced if worn.
- Cemented crowns: to reach the screw, the crown has to be removed or drilled through; sometimes a new crown is needed.
- Broken screw: the fragment is removed from the implant and a new screw fitted.
- Chipped ceramic: according to Leeds Teaching Hospitals, the crown is repaired or replaced.
- New crown: a scan is taken and a new crown made.
Perussolo and Donos (2024) recommend an X-ray when a loosened or broken screw is suspected; after the repair, the bite is checked so that the problem does not recur.
How do you prevent loosening?
- Tell your dentist if you grind or clench; a night guard can help.
- Do not bite on ice, nut shells or bottle caps.
- Report it if a tooth feels “too high” when you bite or your bite has changed.
- Keep your check-up appointments; Perussolo and Donos recommend that prostheses are checked and, where needed, removed for cleaning and adjustment.
- Clean around the implant every day; problems at the implant itself usually begin with inflammation. Tips are in our guide on caring for teeth on implants.
- Keep your implant card safe; it is needed to identify parts and obtain matching replacements.
What do we do at Rönesans when an implant tooth is loose?
At the examination we first establish whether the implant, the abutment or the crown is affected; if the implant itself is suspected, we assess the surrounding bone where needed with a cone-beam CT (CBCT) scan at our clinic in Serdivan. The details on your implant card make it easier to select matching parts. If a new crown is needed, the impression can be taken with an intraoral scanner, and our partner laboratory makes the crown using CAD/CAM.
For problems not caused by the patient, a warranty on defined terms applies; we explain its scope and exclusions at the examination. After treatment we plan your check-ups and stay reachable on WhatsApp. If you notice a loose tooth, write to us at +90 532 363 49 54 or call +90 264 606 09 43. The options for teeth on implants are described on our implant-supported dentures page.