What Causes Dental Implant Failure?

What Causes Dental Implant Failure?

May 01, 2020

Dental implants are made of titanium that is surgically positioned into the jawbone beneath the gum line to replace the missing tooth. A healthy jawbone is important to get implants. The implants help create a stable support for single crowns, denture or bridges.

They appear and feel like your natural teeth as they give a replacement for the missing tooth and enhance your confidence.

Although the implants have a high success rate, they can fail sometimes. Thus, you must be aware of the potential risks of implant failures to prevent any further damage.

You can avoid these complications by following good oral hygiene habits.

Contact your dentist in Coral Pointe Dental & Orthodontics in Gilbert, AZ, USA to know more about it.

Before Procedure Planning

Before planning the full assessment for the treatment, the dentist takes full examination with a review of medical and dental histories to know about the gum disease, smoking, and grinding habits. It is because they can affect the long term success of the implants.

The doctor will take X-rays and CBCT scans to assess the available bone. If the bone is not sufficiently available, then the bone from other sources can be grafted on to the site.

You will be given some pre-surgery instructions by your dental implant specialist. He or she will also suggest you to take antibiotics or rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash a few days before the surgery.

Take proper rest and eat a full and healthy breakfast to ensure good health during surgery.

In case you were sedated, then you should avoid eating anything for 12 or more hours. Take someone along with you who can drive you home after the procedure.

If there is a lack of proper planning, dental implants will not be successful. An inexperienced doctor may proceed with the treatment even when the candidate is not right which can cause improper placement of the implants.

The stress on the implant site can cause the growth of aerobic bacteria causing infections or an abscess.

Early Implant Failure Problems

Sometimes early problems and complications can arise shortly after the dental implant surgery or within the first three to four months of the procedure. You may experience pain or discomfort after the surgery that can be treated with surgery.

But if the pain does not go away even after five to seven days then you should consult your dental expert. The healing process can take three to six months in healing completely.

If you face any complications that are not normal, ask your dental specialist about them. Some of which are:

  • Infection at the site of an implant can develop after surgery. It can get worse in case of having an autoimmune disease, smoking or bad oral hygiene habits.
  • Micro movements can occur due to the instability of the implants after the tooth replacement procedure. Sometimes the surgeon may immediately perform replacement after implantation that can put extra stress on the implants resulting in implant failure.
  • Implant failure can occur due to insufficient bone required to support dental implants.
  • Sometimes, an allergic reaction can occur to titanium alloy or some metal in the implants. You will experience some allergic symptoms like loss of taste, swelling and a tingling sensation.

If you don’t follow the instructions given by your doctor, it will increase the risk of infections and complications. To avoid any problems, follow good oral hygiene and take soft foods instead of hard foods until the implant site heals.

Late Implant Failure Problem

Sometimes long-term complications may arise due to implant failure.

If a surgeon places an implant too close to a nerve, it can cause tissue damage. Moreover, the patient will feel numbness or tingling in the tongue, lips, gums, or face.

When the body rejects an implant, then the person may feel pain at the implant site, swelling, fever, and chills that is because sometimes the body rejects foreign bodies.

If the area surrounding the dental implant is injured, it can loosen the implant, thereby causing implant failure.

However, you can prevent these problems by maintaining proper oral hygiene – regularly brushing and flossing your teeth and visiting your dental professional regularly.

Coral Pointe Dental and Orthodontics
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