Sour taste in mouth after bridge loaded onto dental implants

[suziq725]

On December 12th I had my healing collars removed and had a 3 crown primary bar screw retained bridge placed on three implants. I had previously had fisiograft, which is bone augmentation placed in the cavity after having the teeth extracted.

The bridge was loaded 15 months after having the teeth extracted and bone augmentation completed.   From day one I started to get a sour, unpleasant taste in my mouth which is worse when I eat, and sometimes bad enough to make me feel nauseous.  When I water pic with hot, salty water on the bridge I get a strong smell of burning eggshells, so strong that my husband can smell this while standing next to me!  

I informed the dentist of all this and he put me on a 28 day course of antibiotics, which I have completed with no change to the sour taste.  I have had the teeth x-rayed and no infection is showing in the implant area and two dentists have said the x-rays are good.  I have also had the surrounding teeth x-rayed and no infection is showing. To start with the dentist thought I may have a gum infection and I was told to rinse with Corsydol for two weeks but that made no difference to the problem.
I have had my cleaning technique of the bridge checked out by the dentists and I use TP brushes, superfloss, water pic with hydrogen peroxide, or salt, and use mouth washes.

There is no swelling, puffiness, redness around the area or pain when I eat.  The problem is just this very bad, sour taste which makes makes my breath smell and is having a bad effect on my self confidence.

I am seeing the dentist again tomorrow and have seen two other dentists at the practice but they all seem at a loss as to what is wrong.

If there is no sign of infection on the x-rays and I have no pain or swelling could one of implants still be failing?
I would be so grateful for help as I have today gone sick from work as feel under too much pressure to continue in my job.

[anitaruth]

A related discussion, bad taste in implant side of mouth was started.

[suziq725]

A related discussion, Will a sleeping implant cause future problems? was started.

[Michael H Kirsch, DDS]

If you are still experiencing symptoms you may want to discuss a trial of antifungal medications.  There are extremely safe with almost no side effects.  

If you have a dry mouth or are on certain medications - you may having an overgrowth of fungus in your mouth.  Fungi are a normal inhabitant in the mouth but can increase their quantity in the right environment.

Long term antibiotics can also lead to or worsen this condition.

Lastly, you should make certain the radiographs taken included the maxillary sinuses.  If not, request a CT scan of the sinuses.
Information contained within this reply is intended solely for general educational purposes and is not intended nor implied to be a medical diagnosis or treatment recommendation.  This is not a substitute for professional medical advice relative to your specific medical condition or question. Always seek the advice of your own doctor for medical condition. Only your doctor can provide specific diagnoses and therapies.

[Mario Tuchman, DMD, MD]

It sounds like you and your dentists have tried everything. The smell is probably either due to chronic food collection or an infection. It's not unheard of to have minimal or no pain with a failing implant. Radiologic changes can also take months to appear on dental x-rays. Was there any improvement at all during the 28-day course of antibiotics?

Information contained within this reply is intended solely for general educational purposes and is not intended nor implied to be a medical diagnosis or treatment recommendation.  This is not a substitute for professional medical advice relative to your specific medical condition or question. Always seek the advice of your own doctor for medical condition. Only your doctor can provide specific diagnoses and therapies.