Dental implantation is one of the most common, reliable, and popular procedures in modern dentistry. The specialists at our clinic have extensive experience in installing high-quality full-mouth dental implants, even in the most challenging situations, and can help identify signs of dental implant failure. Implantation enables you to restore lost teeth, regain full chewing function, and achieve a natural-looking aesthetic appearance of your smile.
However, despite the high level of success, there is a risk of complications, the primary one being the failure of the dental implant. Read the information below to understand what causes dental implants to fail. Armed with the knowledge gained, you can avoid damage to a new tooth in the future.
In this article, we will consider dental implant failure symptoms, including signs, causes, treatment methods, and, most importantly, how to prevent them.
What Is Dental Implant Failure
A new artificial tooth may not take root immediately after it is installed. There are also situations when it stops functioning after years.
How to prevent implant failure? Proper care is needed. We constantly inform patients about what to do after the procedure and how to maintain their appearance and adequate hygiene. Sometimes, even simple procedures can protect you from the destruction of the structure.
Modern permanent dental implants are made of biocompatible materials that successfully fuse with bone tissue. Experts call the process osseointegration. If it becomes broken or breaks in the future, the implant can lose stability, cause inflammation, and even require removal.
Early Dental Implant Failure
As a rule, such a situation can occur during the first 3-6 months after even a successful installation. During this period, the implant takes root, and bone and soft tissues actively heal. It is essential to follow and strictly adhere to all the rules that the doctor told you. This way, the new tooth will be able to take root without problems.
Early dental implant failure may have the following reasons:
- Infection in the implant area. Why do dental implants fail? The diagnosis is called periimplantitis. Among the most common, we will note contamination of the surgical field, improper patient hygiene, or a weakened immune system.
- Insufficient osseointegration. Fusion is not a quick process and requires a careful approach. If the bone does not fuse strongly enough with the implant, it loses stability. This situation can happen due to poor bone density, improper installation, or excessive load at an early stage. In our clinic, the dentist assesses the density of bone tissue during the initial consultation and determines whether the area requires additional reinforcement. We do such procedures and can provide you with the most reliable and stable installation.
- Micromovements of the implant. You should not move or press too much on the installed tooth. Even minimal displacement of the implant during the healing process can disrupt its integration with the bone, leading to early dental implant failure.
- Smoking. It is the most harmful habit, which actively affects, among other things, late dental implant failure. Nicotine disrupts the blood supply to tissues, which significantly worsens the healing process.
- Systemic diseases. We recommend that you always inform your dentist about all possible chronic diseases. For example, uncontrolled diabetes, which disrupts tissue regeneration processes, can be one of the factors associated with early and late failure of dental implants.
- Doctor’s mistakes. Installing an artificial tooth requires the highest qualifications and high-quality materials. Incorrect choice of implant size, installation angle, or implantation depth can cause complications.
You can confidently entrust your dream smile to our professionals. Many years of experience and the number of similar manipulations performed enable doctors to handle the task at the highest level.
Late Dental Implant Failure
The situation typically develops months or even years after a successful operation, and the implant has fully functioned. What causes dental implants to fail? Both medical and behavioral reasons can cause it.
The most common causes of late dental implant failure are:
- Periimplantitis. It does not appear spontaneously. It is essential to recognize that this condition involves chronic inflammation of the tissues surrounding the implant, accompanied by the destruction of bone and gum tissue. The causes of its occurrence are considered to be bacterial plaque, poor hygiene, and an improper crown fit.
- Mechanical overload. Even the highest-quality work of a dentist and surgeon can be compromised over time. Remember that this is not a real tooth, and it requires a special approach despite its strength. Excessive pressure on the implant, especially if other teeth are missing, can cause it to loosen.
- Bruxism. In other words, this grinding of teeth leads to late dental implant failure. Constant tension and pressure during sleep can put significant stress on implants, leading to microcracks and loosening.
- Bone tissue aging. You need to visit your dentist regularly for scheduled consultations. Early treatment of failing dental implants can help prevent the need for complete implant replacement. With age, bone mass can decrease, particularly in individuals with osteoporosis.
- Errors in prosthetics. An incorrect load due to a poorly made crown or bridge leads to uneven pressure distribution.
- Allergic reactions. Rarely, but the body may reject even biocompatible materials.
How to prevent implant failure? To maintain proper oral cavity hygiene, follow all the rules and, as a precaution, visit a specialist every six months. This will enable you to identify and eliminate minimal changes in the system promptly.
Key Factors Behind Implant Failure
The Metro Implant Studio clinic and our specialists regularly conduct educational sessions with patients about their care. You need to know the essential moments that you should avoid:
- Smoking. The latest relevant studies show that smokers have a 2-3 times higher risk of implant failure. Smoking worsens microcirculation and reduces immunity. These are two factors that can lead to the system becoming unstable.
- Poor oral hygiene. Every person, even the healthiest, should observe it. Plaque and bacteria accumulate around the implant, causing inflammation.
- Presence of chronic diseases. As mentioned earlier, there are factors associated with early and late failure of dental implants that are beyond a dentist’s control. Diabetes, osteoporosis, and autoimmune diseases reduce the chances of successful integration.
- Poor bone quality. At our clinic, you can receive an immediate diagnosis and resolution of the issue. After all, insufficient density or volume of bone tissue complicates the implant’s installation and engraftment.
- Planning errors. Metro Implant Studio has the best diagnosticians and surgeons on its staff. That is why we consistently avoid misdiagnosis and inadequate bite analysis, and also perform 3D modeling to achieve the best results.
- Physical impact. Avoid injuries, blows, or chronic stress, which can loosen even a well-established implant.
We hope that the information will be helpful to readers. Next, it is essential to recognize all the symptoms and consult a doctor at the earliest stage of the problem.
Signs of Dental Implant Failure
You must read and remember the information below. Armed with knowledge, you will be able to consult a dentist in time and avoid significant financial costs for treatment. Can a failed dental implant be saved? The signs below and a timely response to them will help you:
- Bleeding when brushing your teeth.
- Constant or increasing pain in the area of the implant.
- Swelling, redness, and inflammation of the gums.
- Implant mobility (it should not move).
- Purulent discharge from under the gum.
- The feeling of pressure, heaviness, or a “foreign body.”
- Difficulty chewing.
- Bad breath despite hygiene.
If you notice one or more of these signs, please call to schedule a consultation at your earliest convenience.
Treatment Options for Failing Dental Implants
The choice of methods depends on the stage of the problem and the reason for failure. Let’s highlight the most common options for the treatment of failing dental implants:
- Drug treatment. We will eliminate inflammation or infection.
- Surgical intervention.
- Options include curettage, laser therapy, and removal of granulation tissue.
- Bone grafting. If bone tissue is lost over time, we use substitutes or autografts to replace it.
- Re-implantation.
The sooner we prescribe procedures, the more likely we are to use less traumatic methods.
How to Prevent Implant Failure
In most cases, everything depends only on your actions and the examinations indicated by the dentist.
What people should do:
- Carefully maintain oral hygiene.
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
- Use dental floss, irrigators, and professional rinses.
- Visit your dentist regularly for check-ups.
- Quit smoking.
- Monitor chronic diseases.
- Avoid overexertion.
Regular check-ups should be done twice a year, which will help identify any problems at an early stage.
Final Thought: Protecting Your Dental Implant Investment
Implantation can bring you a lot of joy, replenish the loss of teeth, and last for many years. There are risks, but by understanding the causes, symptoms, and methods of prevention, you can significantly minimize them.
Take proper care, undergo regular dental check-ups, and be responsible for your health. Visit an oral dental studio as soon as you can.
