My Implant Fell Out!

(updated January 2024)

Help, my implant fell out! There is a lot more to that statement than it seems. Let us go under the assumption that you had a dental implant placed, but you have not had the crown or bridge attached to it.

The screw falls into the mouth

You are eating something and a screw-like object falls out into your mouth.

Do not panic… This is likely not the whole implant. Complications of dental implant surgery includes this happening. Most likely the “healing abutment” fell out (see photos below).

Healing abutments for dental implants
Healing abutments
Healing abutment for a dental implant
Healing abutment close up
healing abutment in the mouth for dental implants
Healing abutment in the mouth

The healing abutment is used as a temporary attachment to the implant to prevent the gums from growing over it. It is typically a rounded machined or polished looking metal. It may also have a color.

Usually the healing abutment falls out

Generally speaking, if a healing abutment falls out, the implant is typically okay.

The issue becomes that if you do not replace the healing abutment right away, the gum will close over it within just a few hours! This is because your gum tissue wants to heal the area thereby closing over anything that’s open.

Easy-to-fix situation if your implant fell out

If this happens to you it typically requires a pretty simple visit to your implant dentist to replace the healing abutment.

Typically you would have to get numb or use a very strong topical anesthetic to get it back in place because the gums have shrank. Ideally this happens within the first few hours after losing it.

If it has been out for more than half a day, likely the gum will need to be surgically reopened to place the healing abutment. I often use my carbon dioxide laser to vaporize any extra gum to place it back.

The healing abutment is only used until the final abutment/screw retained or cement retained crown-bridges placed.

So overall, hopefully, it is just your healing abutment that fell out and not your whole dental implant. The entire dental implant is longer and has threads from top to bottom with a special top connector.

Ramsey A. Amin, D.D.S.
Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology /Implant Dentistry
Fellow-American Academy of Implant Dentistry
Burbank, California

95 thoughts on “My Implant Fell Out!”

  1. Hi Dr. Amin,
    I have a question please, I would appreciate it if you can answer me as I am a bit worried. I have done an implant in my molar on my lower jaw in Mid-October in a different country and told me to go back home and wait 3 months to finish the procedure. 3 weeks after the implant has been made, my screw fell out after brushing my teeth and it was at night and on the weekend. I brush and floss my teeth everyday. At the time there were no dentists available so I had to wait 4 days. I had to send a message to the dentist who did the implant, and they told me there’s no point putting the screw back as it will disrupt the implant as well as that the gum will close by itself. I went to the local dentist 4 days after the screw fell out and they prescribed me an antibiotic to prevent infection, and now it’s been 1 month and I feel the site of the fallen screw is swollen and looks like a blister and now I’m a bit worried. Should I go to the local doctor to remove the implant or should I wait the rest of the 3 months and go back to the dentist to fix it? Could you please advise me on what to do? Thank you in advance and I appreciate your time.

    Reply
  2. Hi Dr. Amin — I had an first stage implant one month ago and my healing abutment fell out this weekend. The surgeon did not get back to me until today and he said since its likely healed over, they will just wait until my second stage appointment to put it back in and directly put in a crown base. He said there should be no delay in when I can get the crown tooth put in (about a week after).

    Do you agree with this assessment?
    Will there be no degradation to the implant fixture without the healing screw in there for 2 months until my second stage?
    Should he be examining the area for possible infection?
    Will this not delay the timeline I can get the crown put in?

    Thank you,
    Sarah

    Reply
  3. Hello I have had 8 posts fitted four weeks ago but it seems two have disappeared has the gum grown over or have they come out .I have not felt anything.thanks Garry meakins

    Reply
  4. My implant cap just fell out,so there’s a gapping exposed hole there now.i immediately let a message for my dentist( his office reopens monday) I immediately rinsed the area off,along with a tongue cleansing( food eating will cease for me until I see dentist ) what else can I do to prevent infection as I don’t have a antibiotic rinse acailable.i not in pain at the moment,actually I’m praying that no pain starts up.i tried to see if I could screw it back in,but I’m terrified if I hit a nerve that will start up some pain.this sucks because implants aren’t cheap,and I would hate to develop an infection that will push the implant itself out,or infection causing something more serious.please help

    Reply
  5. Dr. Amin,
    I had a healing abutment fall out, and I was at my periodontist in under an hour. He made about five attempts reseat the abutment – each attempt more painful that the one before. He gave up after that as said we would just let it heal over. He took an x-ray image of the location (number 3). The implant was gone. I was up inside my sinuses.

    I asked “What happened?”, to which he replied – “I don’t know”. The next week, had went in after it using a sinus lift technique – but in this case, he retrieved the implant AND the abutment. It is then that I learned he must have pushed both implant and the abutment inside the maxillary sinus cavity.

    My biggest concern is this: Why are the abutments made where they are able become loose? Should not there be a lock out mechanism to prevent such a thing? Because of this fault, I not only had to suffer the remove of the implant from inside my sinuses, but now I have to start as square one – all this will have to be repeated. And that is if the there is not too much damage to bone that was holding the former implant.

    Would you make comment on this please. I would like to know your thoughts.
    -Tom

    Reply
    • Yikes. Your bone was likely super soft as this is common in the #3 area. The implant likely had little torque when placed so the healing abutment could not be fully tightened. Then the attempt to re-tighten spun it in the sinus. I have bailed out some other dentists in this situation. Luckily it will be able to be fixed.

      Reply
  6. Hello. My abutment screw broke off inside the implant post. The screw was successfully retrieved but there was no healing abutment available to place, so my gums have grown over the post which was plugged with some sort of caulk like material.
    So when my new screw arrives… he is obviously going to have to surgically expose the post opening. My question: Can he place the screw and old crown over the unhealed gums he cut? With no time with a healing abutment which he didn’t order?

    Reply
  7. Hi Dr.Amin.

    I just had all on 6 implants put in 2 days ago, top and bottom.
    They gave me 2 day temporary arches for the moment and will give me the 6-4 month temporary arches tomorrow.

    Today one of the screws that go i to an abutment fell out while gently rinsing mouth.

    Today is Sunday here and the clinic is not open, i cant contact anyone and am afraid.

    I am afraid this will put too much pressure on the other freshly placed implants or worse.
    I am trying to keep up with prescription mouthwash incase of infection but not sure if i should stop mouthwash?

    Is there anything i should do until i can see dentist?

    Thank you for helping.

    Reply
  8. Hi dr amen I had a lot of teeth removed and all on 6 implants on upper and lower jaw just over 3 weeks ago but was in a excruciating amount of pain when they stitched my top gums and felt each stitch 😢but since my dental work still have tingeling sensation in my lower lip and my chin feels numb also gums still feel very sensitive and my stitches have still not dissolved , my implants aren’t loose and I have no bleeding and can eat fine but am just a bit worried that my implants is failing , I am brushing my teeth and have purchased a water flosser that I do x2 daily , just feels like this should of all subsided by now or is each persons healing time different as most people say they felt nothing after 5-10 days ? Also is it ok to use mouth wash , salted water to swill with ? Is there any other things I can do to protect from infection ? Sorry I’ve bombarded you with multiple questions 🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️just am little worried bout it all tbh x thank you marie

    Reply
  9. Hello, I have a dental implant that was placed 8 years ago its front upper incisor, everything was fine until last week I went for a check up and my dentist told me there’s a but of gum inflammation but not a drastic bone loss yet. She checked with x-rays and told me the crown that I have now is not well shaped (it’s square from the top) and said this is called food trap, and she suggested to replace the crown on implant. It is cemented and I’m now living in another country so they’re having troubles finding the parts that work with the brand that my dentist used, I’m very worried. Need your advice on this. what is the worst case scenario?

    Reply
  10. Hi! I had two dental implants placed in my upper left area about a year ago. I never got the actual crowns placed because these implants are big and placed in my sinus a dentist told me. He has been suggested that i have them removed. Haven’t gotten around to it. However a small little silver screw fell out today (Sunday) no blood no real pain as of right now. Will i be okay til tomorrow at least? I’m scared. I wanna go to the emergency room.

    Reply
    • I am sorry I did not see this until now. There is no reason to go to the emergency room for this little silver screw. Many implants are purposely put into the sinus as a sinus lift procedure which is indicated when there is not enough bone. It sounds like you might need to see a more skilled dentist and get a better understanding of what you currently have.

      Here is some information on sinus lifting

      Reply
  11. Thank you for this Q&A! My healing abutment fell out yesterday (Friday) and the earliest appointment I can get with my dentist is four days from now (Tuesday). Should I try to get an earlier appointment if possible? Is it OK to leave the healing abutment out of my gum? (I can place it back into the gap, but it does not stay in place and keeps falling out) Thank you in advance.

    Reply
  12. Hello Dr. Amin
    I had an implant placed on number 7 front right tooth. It fell out when dentist was placing crown. I went to a periodontist to have it placed again. He used human growth hormones in addition to the normal bone graft material to assure it would take. After 2 weeks I had an accident and there was trauma to the area where implant was placed. Periodontist is afraid 3rd implant may not take saying “he tightened it enough that it should not have loosened within hours of accident.” I want to try for a third time but am worried now that it won’t take.” What do you think? Thank you so much for your thought. Don’t know what to do!

    Reply
    • This is very odd. If you had the implant for more than 4-6 months and it was integrated there is no way that the entire screw could fall out unless it had a previous problem. I think you need to see an expert implant dentist to replace it but this all sounds very strange. It is possible to break off the implant and the abutment but for the whole implant to come out and the other teeth remain intact would be a mystery. Without seeing you I cannot really tell for sure of course.

      Reply
      • My implant was never completed. The first implant was placed and several months later, when I went to my regular dentist, she was taking the inside screw out to start the crown process, the whole implant came out. Six months later I went to a Periodontist to have implant placed again and 2 weeks after placement, my upper lip area (where implant was) was hit and the implant fell out that night. This was an accident and having the implant placed again is under insurance. Should I take a chance and try again with an implant or give up and get a bridge. Thanks!

        Reply
  13. I do not know if this thread is still open but I need help! I had my back molar extracted 10 days ago and the implant on my first molar proximal to the extraction has completely fallen out. And I live in Mexico. However, my implant was done in California about 8 years ago. It was fine before this extraction(due to a failed root canal). I am terrified! I need this tooth to chew. Is this a result of trauma? The oral surgeon said the extraction went well. What are my options to save it? It was very expensive.

    Reply
  14. I had all my upper teeth pulled and bone added to the right front area in June 2021 to do implant dentures. Finally got my dentures after the first of the year I have had them 5 months now and have lost my right front screw 3 times now .
    First time I lost my screw my dentist had to reopen the hole by burning my skin around the hole, second time I was able to shove the screw in place, replacing it wasn’t really a big deal, third time I couldn’t put the screw back in, called and my dentist got me in the next morning BUT she had to shave the skin around the hole to get the new screw back in.(I have two dentist one put the implants in the second dentist put the screws in and made my dentures)
    My first dentist only put 3 implants in to hold my dentures (question: do I need 4 implants for the top to be balanced for the dentures and for my bite and is it normal to loose so many screws in just 5 mouths)
    Please help 😞
    (I’m praying I haven’t choose the wrong procedure or the wrong teem)

    Reply
  15. Hi Dr. Amin,

    I’m so glad I found your Q&A. I had my front right tooth extracted and bone graft July 2021, implant placed November 2021, healing abutment placed March 2022, and impressions done this month. At the time of my impressions, my dentist said everything was looking great according to the x-rays. I was very weary of the puffiness above the healing abutment, but she said that is just the contour for the final crown? Anyway, today I noticed that my tongue was able to slightly move the healing abutment. I called her ASAP and she said I could come in the office when I get off work. Not even 2 hours later, it fell out from the suction of my water bottle. I went to see her immediately. She torqued it back in, without numbing me, and I had to stop her mid-way because the throbbing was unreal! She numbed me and finished tightening it, which feels much tighter than before and must be why it hurt so bad this time compared to the initial insertion and impression appointment. I’m concerned that this will affect my ability to have the final abutment and crown placed next Tuesday. I’m assuming I will have swollen gums now. She didn’t make any indication that my appointment may have to be rescheduled, but I haven’t always felt fully informed leaving her office unfortunately. Do you think that I should be concerned the final crown placement has to be rescheduled? Also, in your experience, have you ever dealt with puffiness (but NOT red, inflamed, or painful) gums right above the abutment/implant? Sorry for the mouthful — and I appreciate any information. Thank you!!

    Reply
  16. Hi Dr. Amin and thank you for keeping this Q&A – I’m glad I found it!
    I had some dental implants done in February. Last night (4 weeks later), a healing abutment fell out. I was able to get to my dentist this morning and he put it back in. At both follow-up appointments, they’ve told me everything is healing very nicely.
    I think it’s come out again tonight – but I’m not sure?! I could feel it in place this morning, but it seemed further down than before. Now, I can feel and see metal, but I can’t make out the abutment. Today, I didn’t see or feel the abutment, but I’m pretty sure it’s come out again.
    It’s late Saturday night and my dentist is closed till Monday. When you say if it’s not replaced quickly it requires surgical reopening, do you mean conscious sedation? Or lidocaine? Am I ok waiting till Monday (as opposed to seeing an emergency dentist tomorrow, which would be $$$$$)? Will it be very painful if it needs to be surgically reopened?
    Thanks for reading this and for your help!

    Reply
    • I think the wrong abutment is placed. There is no way it should come out this frequently. Lidocaine alone should do it though. Let me know what happens and thanks for your kind words!

      Reply
  17. My healing abutment fell out and I can not get in for 2 days. Is this going to be surgical now to replace due to the length of time? My gum is fully healed I was waiting on the crown to come in to be attached. I am hoping the hole stays open enough.

    Reply
  18. Went to regular dentist to have my bridge put on after 4 months of healing after my implant was placed by another implant specialist. My dentist put on my bridge and tighten it. However the color of the bridge was off so my dentist unscrewed my bridge to remove it which was quite painful and my implant fell out. Why would this happen?I feel he was too rough but I’m very confuse.

    Reply
    • Oof! The implant was probably not fused to the bone. That is NOT normal even if the dentist is rough and tough.

      I’m so sorry. This is a bummer for sure.

      Just go ahead and have another implant done.

      Vitamin d supplements and don’t smoke

      Reply
  19. I had two dental implants put in 2 weeks ago next to each other. The abutment on the lower right jaw at the very end keeps coming out about every 7-8 days. The dentist said the first time it may be due to chewing on that side which I rarely do since I have been missing the two lower teeth for over 20 years. Since he put the abutment back in last week I have been only drinking smoothies, soup and mac and cheese. What could be the issue. It’s evening right now and hopefully he is in tomorrow.

    Reply
    • It is likely that the abutment is not fully sitting down on the implant. Usually there is some bone or tissue in the way. This requires some revision procedure in order to get it all the way down.

      Reply
  20. I was at work today and I try to eat with my side teeth and I bite into a sandwich and my implants bite into a pickle and I didn’t know. Once I bit down I had a sharp pain and now my front teeth are slightly pushed forward. I’m no longer in pain I’m just scared. I have an appointment on the 19th of November. I just need some reassurance that it’s ok. I’m so scared

    Reply
  21. My whole implant has been loose for weeks with a little pain. Today I pulled on it because it was so loose, it pulled right out. Looks like the white thing. Thick threaded screw. It’s a back tooth so it’s not a big deal but can food get in the hole and get infected?

    Reply
  22. One of my implants fell out this morning. I can’t see the dentist until Monday. Is it alright to ware my upper denture. I have 3 other implants to hold it in

    Reply
  23. Hello Dr. Amin,
    I have first molar dental implant that felt started causing pain and swelling in my upper cheek area. I called your office and have an appt. For x-rays Scheduled for tomorrow. Inwas brushing my teeth and I felt the crown was very loose, I gave it a small tug and heard cracking! Then the entire implant came out, screw included. I am worried that by the time I have my appt with you on Thursday, the hole will be healed and it will be to late for socket preservation. Or will everything be okay?

    Reply
  24. My entire dental implant fell out. I have been having issues but did not realize that it was the implant tooth. I have a dental appointment this Wednesday. It’s the weekend (isn’t it always). Do I need to see the dentist earlier

    Reply
  25. I went through two steps each i had a bone graft awhile back in 2018 had my implants done on Oct 15 2020 & finally had my Abundants put on April 22nd..So on May 9th one of my Abundants / healing caps fell out …..Im hoping that the Surgeon didnt take out to much bone wrapped around my implants & then put in the abundant & hopefully the Abundant can be screwed back into place without any complications & i should have enough bone. im so displeased with this outcome with this procedure so close with the final steps of being done …Hopefully things will turn out better through the Grace & Mercy of God …im in Tennessee.

    Reply
      • I had an implant put in several months ago and my abutment screw just came out. My dentist is closed until Monday what should I do?

        Reply
          • Dear Doc,
            I got my tooth extraction done on 2nd January..On 20th April the implant was done..after 8 days when I went for stitch cutting..the doc said there was infection and bone loss as I didn’t take proper care..and gave an appointment for 1st of May to reopen the place, do bone grafting and place the implant again. It was all done. Today just 2 hours back the metal cover screw came out when I was brushing my teeth at night. I will get to see the doctor tomorrow around 12pm.
            Is there something I should worry about? Kindly advise.

        • Hello Dr. Amin,
          I have first molar dental implant that felt started causing pain and swelling in my upper cheek area. I called your office and have an appt. For x-rays Scheduled for tomorrow. Inwas brushing my teeth and I felt the crown was very loose, I gave it a small tug and heard cracking! Then the entire implant came out, screw included. I am worried that by the time I have my appt with you on Thursday, the hole will be healed and it will be to late for socket preservation. Or will everything be okay?

          Reply
  26. I had a titanium tooth implant the dentist said I didn’t have any bone holding it and recommended surgery. But the whole thing came out this weekend. There’s no bleeding or anything I’m assuming the gum will heal on its own. In the case where everything falls out do I really need to go back to the dentist?

    Reply
    • I just recently had four posts put in. One of the post was put in the same day as the bone graft. Prior to this two dentist told me I would need the bone graft and then have to wait a few months. This dentist said he could do it in the same day. About 2 weeks later the healing screw fell out of the implant that was put into the bone graft. I was back at the dentist within 4 hours of the screw coming out. The dentist did not x-ray but simply looked in my mouth and said it would be okay and to wait until I come back few months from now and he will take care of it. Is this proper procedure? What is the probability that it fell out because he did the post the same day he did the bone graft? Thanks for any assistance

      Reply
      • Placing the implant the same day of the bone graft is very common and in fact recommended on many cases. I do not know the details of your particular situation but hopefully all will be okay. Oftentimes we over engineer things so that if we lose a screw or a suture everything will still turn out alright. Keep me posted and thank you your comment

        Reply
    • Hmm…I still think you are ok. If you had a failing implant you would feel some pain when you tap on it. Hopefully it is fine! It is very difficult to remove an implant ar cause it to move at this stage. You would have to put A LOT of pressure to cause this.

      Reply
  27. I had an upper molar extracted and a ‘fixture’ implanted one week later. I went in for a checkup 1 week after the implant and was told everything looked ok. Exactly one week after the checkup, the fixture literally fell out. I do not have any autoimmune issues and this point I have lost confidence in the dentist. I am also considering having an oral surgeon look at the issue. Is it possible the dentist is to blame for the fixture falling out?

    Reply
    • Did you have a temporary on or over the implant? Do you smoke? Diabetes?

      This is an area generally that has very soft bone and has to be handled differently than any area in the entire mouth.

      There are hundreds of factors at play here.

      Let me know

      Reply
      • No, just the ‘fixture’ with abutment was in place. I do not smoke and do not have diabetes nor any autoimmune issues. I took antibiotics for a week and rinsed my mouth twice daily with an oral rinse supplied by the dentist. In other words, I did everything I was asked to do to assure a positive outcome. Therein lies my concern and displeasure.

        Reply
    • No, just the ‘fixture’ with abutment was in place. I do not smoke and do not have diabetes nor any autoimmune issues. I took antibiotics for a week and rinsed my mouth twice daily with an oral rinse supplied by the dentist. In other words, I did everything I was asked to do to assure a positive outcome. Therein lies my concern and displeasure.

      Reply
  28. Hello Dr. Amin,

    I have a congenital missing tooth on my upper jaw, the second tooth from the center. About 4 moths ago I had a bone graft and implant placement and a week ago today I had my healing abutment placed. Today at dinner I noticed that the abutment wiggled a bit when I ate, and made a bit of a clicking noise as it moved. Since then I have had some soreness around the implant and extending into the roof of my mouth. I have contacted my surgeons after hours “emergency help” number but haven’t heard back from them, and I won’t be able to properly contact them for several days as it is a Friday night and they’re open M-F. Is this normal? Am I at risk for it falling out? What can I do?

    Reply
    • It should be ok if it is just he healing abutment as the this post describes! If it is just loose it can be tightened back down. You could try to screw it back in just turned in the clockwise direction!

      Ramsey A. Amin, D.D.S.
      Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology /Implant Dentistry
      Fellow-American Academy of Implant Dentistry

      Reply
  29. Hello Dr. Amin,

    I have a congenital missing tooth on my upper jaw, the second tooth from the center. About 4 moths ago I had a bone graft and implant placement and a week ago today I had my healing abutment placed. Today at dinner I noticed that the abutment wiggled a bit when I ate, and made a bit of a clicking noise as it moved. Since then I have had some soreness around the implant and extending into the roof of my mouth. I have contacted my surgeons after hours “emergency help” number but haven’t heard back from them, and I won’t be able to properly contact them for several days as it is a Friday night and they’re open M-F. Is this normal? Am I at risk for it falling out? What can I do?

    Reply
    • It should be ok if it is just he healing abutment as the this post describes! If it is just loose it can be tightened back down. You could try to screw it back in just turned in the clockwise direction!

      Ramsey A. Amin, D.D.S.
      Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology /Implant Dentistry
      Fellow-American Academy of Implant Dentistry

      Reply
  30. Dr. Amin,

    I am so glad I found your website/blog!
    My healing abutment fell out and it’s a Sunday during the COVID-19 shutdown in MA. I’m wondering if the gums will immediately heal overnight over and mean I’ll have to get them surgically re-opened.

    Is there any way for me to screw it back in myself until I can go to the dentist?

    Can I eat food? Should I avoid alcohol?

    Reply
  31. My crown implant is loose. I have no gum pain or soreness ; the implant is 3 yrs old. Hoping they just have to tighten it.

    Reply
    • Hello Dr. Armin.
      I’m so glad I found your website.
      I’ve lost my two front teeth, when I visited my dentist I had to get a dental bone graft done but he was able to place implants the same day as the bone graft. however, only a month later the entire implant fell out on my left front tooth, The doctor advised me I would have to wait at least 6 weeks after the implant fell out in order for him to replace it. I recently returned to the dentist after 10 weeks for the replacement, but he said that the bone from where the initial implant fell out (left tooth) was “too soft” to place another implant and asked I return again in 6 weeks for the replacement. However, he took out the other implant (right tooth) the same day and claimed that it was loose so he replaced it.
      I have lost al lot of confidence in the doctor, please advise if this is normal.
      Will I possibly need another bone graft procedure?

      Reply
      • Hi Muhamed,
        It sounds like you have a very advanced case. These typically require a large GBR or what I prefer is a block bone graft. I probably would not have replaced the single implant and waited for everything to heal, build a lot more bone, then placed the implants. Front and center teeth are considered the most difficult of all to get great results. I do many of these in my practice and they are both difficult and gratifying for me.

        I hope things work out. Keep me posted

        Reply
  32. The temporary screw fell out this morning and my dentist said it is fine and I do not need to have it put back in. I will not be able to get the permanent one put in for some time. Should I be concerned and have him put it back I ?

    Reply
  33. Hey Dr. Amin,

    I have read lots of your articles and have soaked up a lot of knowledge from your blog however I have a question. 2 of my front teeth need to get extracted sooner than later for various reasons.

    Can I get adjacent dental implants? I haven’t seen any online from people doing it. Can I get that done and avoid complications?

    Reply

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