Expert: Jeff Dalin DDS - 12/4/2006

Question
I just can't seem to stop rubbing my tongue against this post and am afraid that I might loosen it-- or may have already loosened it. When the doctor took his first X ray of the implant, he said that it looked "very good." I wonder, when the implant goes in (mine has been in for about 5 weeks now), is it as tight as it is going to be? Or is it slightly loose and tightens up over the 3 month healing period? I'm a bit nervous that may have rubbed it so much my tongue that I have destroyed something for which I have paid $2,000. Or are dental implants not all that fragile? (I've heard of people having theirs immediately loaded.) For the record, mine is central incisor. Immediate implant after extraction + bone graft.

Answer
they are generally not fragile at all. but this seems to be driving you crazy. call the dentist and get in there for him to take a look at things for you. let him put your mind at ease. generally it goes in fairly tight. it is not floating around in there. it is "screwed" into the bone. so there is virtually no movement from minute one. make that call and put your mind at ease. good luck,

jeff dalin, dds