Dental Implant Failure: Signs, Causes, and Prevention

Dental Implants are effective restorations for missing teeth. Dental implants are implanted into your jawbone and closely mimic your natural teeth. They improve your jawbone health, bite function, oral aesthetics, oral health, and overall quality of life.

Like most surgical procedures, dental implants come with a risk of potential risks and complications like implant failure. This article discusses the signs that can indicate implant failure, common reasons behind implant failure, and how to reduce the risk of dental implant failure and other complications.

Signs of Failed Dental Implants

Below are common signs that might indicate a failed dental implant and related complications. Contact your dentist or surgeon right away if you experience:

• Loose or shifting implant. Normally, an implant shouldn’t move, even when chewing or speaking. Any looseness or movement in your dental implant could mean it has failed, and you should contact your dentist or surgeon immediately.
• Gum inflammation or recession. Gum inflammation or recession around the implant, especially accompanied by pain, can indicate an infection or implant failure.
• Pain and discomfort. While it’s normal to experience some discomfort around the implant for a few days after implant surgery, worsening pain or pain lasting more than 10 days may indicate a failed dental implant.
• Difficulty chewing and biting. After healing, a dental implant should function like your real teeth. Normally, you shouldn’t expect any pain, discomfort, or difficulty when chewing or biting down.
• Sudden allergic reactions. Some patients might have allergic reactions to implants made from titanium. This means the body has rejected the implant. You can experience side effects like loss of taste, gum and face swelling, and a tingling sensation around the implant.

Dental Implant Failure Rates and Reasons

Generally, dental implants have a relatively high success rate of 90% and above. This means there’s about a 5 to 10% risk of dental implant failure. Below are common causes of dental implant failure:

1. Unhealthy or inadequate bone density. Sufficient jawbone density is essential to create a strong foundation for the dental implant to bond successfully with the jawbone. An insufficient jawbone can compromise the osseointegration process, leading to implant failure. If you have an insufficient jawbone density, bone grafting can help rebuild the bone before installing the implant.
2. Peri-implantitis. Factors like poor oral hygiene, weakened immune system and underlying health issues like diabetes can increase the risk of infections around the implant. Peri-implantitis is the infection and inflammation of the tissues around a dental implant. If not treated promptly, peri-implantitis can lead to implant failure.
3. Poor osseointegration. An implant can fail if it doesn’t completely integrate with the surrounding bone. This can be attributed to inadequate bone quality, poor surgical procedures, delayed bone healing, and infections around the implant.
4. Prosthetic complications. Any damages or problems with the dental implant’s prosthetics, like dental crowns, can affect the health of your implant and lead to failure.
5. Poor oral hygiene. Poor oral hygiene can encourage infections and inflammation around the dental implant, leading to implant failure or complications.
6. Overloading. Applying excessive force on the implant, especially during the early healing phases, can lead to poor osseointegration and implant failure.
7. Allergic reaction. Some people can develop allergic reactions to implant materials like titanium, leading to implant failure.
8. Dental implant surgery complications. While rare, complications can develop when installing the implant. For instance, the surrounding nerves can get damaged or impacted, leading to severe pain, numbness, and other complications.
9. Existing medical conditions. Unmanaged medical conditions like diabetes, certain cancers, autoimmune diseases, and osteoporosis can affect osseointegration, leading to implant failure.
10. Smoking. Tobacco products can affect blood and oxygen flow in the oral tissues, delaying healing. This increases the risk of infections around the implant, potentially leading to implant failure.

How to Prevent Dental Implant Failure

Below are common ways to prevent dental implant failure:

• Choose the right dentist or surgeon. Working with a highly trained and experienced dentist or surgeon significantly lowers your risk of implant failure. Visit our office for quality dental implants near you.
• Excellent oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing regularly can promote faster healing and lower the risk of infections around the implant, reducing the risk of implant failure.
• Regular dental checkups. These checkups help the dentist monitor the healing progress and clean your mouth to lower your risk of implant complications.
• Avoid smoking and alcohol. Smoking and alcohol can delay osseointegration healing and increase the risk of peri-implantitis, leading to implant failure.
• Watch your diet. Follow your surgeon’s instructions about diet after your implant surgery. Consuming hard or chewy foods can be painful and cause pressure on the implant, increasing your risk of implant failure. Limit sugary items to lower your risk of infections.
• Follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions. Following your dentist’s post-operative instructions will promote faster recovery and lower your risk of dental implant failure and complications.

Visit Our Office for Dental Implants in Andover, MA

Are you interested in dental implants? Or would you like more information about dental implant complications and prevention strategies? Contact Andover Cosmetic Dental Group to book your appointment today.