Differences Between Dental Implants And Natural Teeth

Differences between Dental Implants and Natural Teeth

Dentists use various scoring systems to evaluate the health of teeth. Since implants are manufactured and placed differently, the same scores may have different meanings.

1. Mobility (Movement)

For Natural Teeth

It is normal for a healthy tooth to have some mobility due to its attachment. A low mobility score may still be acceptable.

Zero mobility is the only acceptable score for an implant.

Since the implant is fused to the bone, any movement — even slight, sideways movements — means that the bond with the bone has been damaged or the surrounding bone has been lost.

In other words, if your dental implants are moving, you are in trouble.

Important point:

If you can wiggle your implant with your tongue or finger, this is a dental emergency.

This usually means the implant has failed or the internal screw is loose and urgent intervention is required.

2. Probing Depth (‘Pocket’)

For Natural Teeth

Your dentist uses a small ruler (probe) to measure the space between the gum and the tooth. A depth of 1–3 mm is generally considered healthy.

For implants

Probing around implants is more controversial. Since the gum fibres do not penetrate the implant but run parallel to it, the probe can more easily slip deeper, even if the tissue is still healthy.

• A 4–5 mm pocket around a natural tooth usually indicates gum disease.
• Around an implant, a 4 mm pocket may be completely normal, depending on how deep the surgeon initially placed the implant.

Important point:

Dentists focus not on a single number, but on changes over time.

A pocket that increases from 3 mm to 6 mm within a year is more concerning than a measurement of 4 mm that remains stable for several years.

3. Bleeding During Probing

For Natural Teeth

If bleeding occurs when the dentist's probe touches your gums, this is a sign of gingivitis.

For implants

Bleeding still indicates inflammation (peri-implant mucositis), but it is slightly less reliable as an indicator of future bone loss compared to natural teeth. However, the absence of bleeding is a very strong indicator of health.

If the gums around your implant are pink, firm and do not bleed, this is a sign of excellent stability.

4. Keratinised Tissue (‘Hard’ Gums)

Look at the roof of your mouth: the tissue is pale, rough and firm.

Now look at the inside of your cheeks: they are red, soft and mobile.

Natural Teeth

Teeth generally function without problems even if the surrounding tissue is softer and more mobile.

Implants

Implants generally perform better when surrounded by firm, keratinised gum tissue.

If the tissue around your implant is soft and mobile (like the inside of your cheek), muscle movement can open the space between the gum and the metal, allowing bacteria to enter. This mobile tissue is often associated with more plaque build-up and more complications.

What does this mean for your home care?

Because the seal around an implant is weaker than that around a natural tooth, your home care routine should be:

• Aggressive against bacteria, but
• Gentle on the tissue.

1. Don't rely on pain

Natural teeth have nerves that sense pressure, cold, and pain. Implants do not.

You can lose a significant amount of bone around the implant without feeling anything until it is too late.

2. Visual checks

Make it a habit to look at the gums around the implant in the mirror:

• Are they pink and firm? That's a good sign.
• Are they red, shiny, swollen, or bleeding? That's a warning sign.

Since probing depths around implants are interpreted differently, what you see at home becomes very important.

3. Flossing technique

Around implants, pulling the floss down forcefully can compromise the biological seal.

• Gently slide the floss in.
• Wrap it around the implant crown in a ‘C’ shape.
• Clean with a polishing motion, not a harsh sawing motion.

Your dentist or hygienist can show you specialised brushes, super floss, or water flossers suitable for implants.

Conclusion

A dental implant is an engineering marvel, but it is not a replica of your natural tooth. It lacks the shock-absorbing ligament and tight fibrous connection that natural teeth possess. Therefore, the clinical indicators used to measure success — mobility, probing depth, and bleeding — must be interpreted differently.

By understanding that your implant is a separate biological system, you can better understand the need for specialised professional care and careful home maintenance.

Your implant is not merely a false tooth;

it is a medical device that requires a long-term collaboration between you and your dentist to ensure it lasts a lifetime.