Dental implants are renowned for their resilience and have an incredibly high success rate of 95% or more. Most people recover effectively without developing issues by following their dentist’s post-op instructions to care for their new teeth.
However, that doesn’t mean these restorations are entirely invincible. There are circumstances in which they can fail, and many patients are unsure what will happen next. Continue reading to learn more about why this happens and how your dentist handles it!
What Causes Dental Implant Failure?
Dental implants are the only replacement teeth that include a titanium pole that’s surgically embedded into your jaw. Once it’s placed, it functions like a root to stimulate new bone growth every time you bite down and chew. Eventually, enough material is generated to fully encompass and fuse with the metal rod, making it a firmly planted permanent structure in your mouth.
Unfortunately, some patients don’t have enough jawbone density to support their implant or don’t produce enough new bone and can’t complete this stage of healing. This can lead to a destabilized or damaged prosthetic. Also, bacteria in your mouth can penetrate and infect your connective tissues and jawbone around your restoration, causing a form of gum disease known as peri-implantitis, which is the number one leading cause of failure.
How Are Failed Dental Implants Addressed?
Sometimes, your dentist can place a stint to stabilize the support pole of your restoration long enough for it to integrate fully with your jawbone. Otherwise, they’ll probably have to extract it.
Because your prosthetic might already be surrounded by new bone growth, depending on how long ago it was placed, your dentist must proceed carefully to avoid losing additional density. The most common method of taking out a damaged implant is using a trough bur. This instrument precisely cuts a small portion of the bone around the titanium rod. This creates enough space to alleviate tension on the implant so it can be more easily removed.
Can I Get a New Dental Implant?
It can take anywhere from 6 to 8 months of recovery before your mouth has healed enough to try to place a new prosthetic. In many cases, an additional bone graft or sinus lifting procedure is necessary to provide a firm foundation to anchor your new teeth in place.
If your provider verifies that you’re not a valid candidate for an additional implant procedure, they will discuss alternative treatments with you, like dentures or a dental bridge to rebuild your grin.
Meet the Author
Dr. Eduart Shkurti has nearly 2 decades of experience helping people of all ages build and maintain their happiest, healthiest smiles. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Southern California and is a member of several prestigious professional organizations, including the American Dental Association. He combines art and science to complete the entire dental implant process in-house, so you don’t need to seek an outside provider for surgery. Then, he utilizes state-of-the-art equipment to improve patient comfort while delivering a lifelike restoration made to last. You can request an appointment on the website or call (718) 806-1662.