Why Some Dental Implants Fail and How to Avoid It

July 18, 2018

Dentist giving advice

Although dental implant failure is rare, it can happen even if your surgeon took every extreme precaution and used the most innovative techniques. Failures don’t occur because of body rejection like you would see with an organ transplant. Instead, failure happens because of your general health as well as the process of the surgery or post-operation care.

Hiossen® Implants provides safe, effective and economical products manufactured under strict quality control to help reduce any risks.

What Are the Signs of Dental Implant Failure?

Two main reasons exist as to why dental implants may fail: peri-implantitis and failed osseointegration. Peri-implantitis occurs when you don’t take adequate care of your teeth, including brushing and flossing. It’s a form of gum disease where the infection damages the bone. If it’s not detected right away, peri-implantitis can cause your tooth to loosen.

Failed osseointegration transpires when your jawbone doesn’t grow around the implant to make it secure. It can be related to the quality of your bone, whether or not you smoke, whether or not your surgeon used bone grafting and, finally, the type of technique. When the implant doesn’t integrate and embed into your bone, it often occurs in the early stages after surgery.

Early and Late Phases of Ineffective Teeth Implants

The early stages of unsuccessful implanted teeth occur within three to four months after surgery. It is imperative your dental hygienist uses proper protocols — including sterility, prevention of overheated bone, right flap design, stable insertion and placing the implants where sufficient bone exists. Even if you are referred to an experienced surgeon, not all implants integrate with your jaw despite taking proper measurements.

Short-term components that can cause dental implant failure include:

  • Deprived blood supply to implant area
  • Existing infections in the mouth
  • Moving or shifting of the implant during healing
  • Not giving implants enough time to integrate
  • Poor health of the patient

Choosing a qualified and trained dentist can eliminate some of the factors that can lead to failure. Being transparent with them about your medications, diseases and other factors about your health condition can create a higher success rate as well.

Late dental failure can ensue after one to 10 years after your surgery, and may include:

  • Bacterial infections
  • Excessive stress on implants
  • Grinding and clenching teeth
  • Lack of bone
  • Lack of gum tissue
  • Poor oral hygiene
  • Radiation to the head and neck areas
  • Too much food impacted in between implants

Detailed Aspects Affecting Dental Inserts

While peri-implantitis and failed osseointegration are two leading factors, other reasons for failure are as followed:

  • Diabetes
  • Gum disease
  • Inadequate jawbone
  • Inconsistent oral hygiene practices
  • Location in mouth
  • Medications
  • Poor implant placement
  • Preexisting medical conditions, including cancer
  • Smoking
  • Teeth grinding

People who have chronic health conditions such as diabetes, autoimmune disorders, cancer, and osteoporosis may have a higher risk of implant failure. Even someone with periodontitis may be more susceptible to peri-implantitis, which can increase the risk of bone loss and post-surgical infections.

Gum disease can advance tooth decay or a gum disease-causing implant failure. This is why vigilant oral hygiene is imperative. Failures may also happen if you have an inadequate jawbone for the implant to adhere to. Because the bone supports the tooth and the implant fuses with the jaw, a dentist must evaluate you beforehand. Most often, people complete bone regeneration before the surgery if there is not enough bone present.

If you don’t brush and floss on a daily basis, it can lead to peri-implantitis and other gum diseases. The location in your mouth can also affect the success rate, as teeth further in the back of your mouth undergo more stress from chewing, which can cause your teeth to fail quicker.

Poor placement by a surgeon can affect the outcome as well. The operation requires an experienced and trained dentist, who takes time to know your conditions and takes precaution throughout the placement. Smoking can trigger a failure, and if you are a classic teeth grinder, the constant rubbing can take a toll on your new pearly whites. Grinding places stress on the implants and causes them to fail.

How to Tell If Your Implant Is Deteriorating

Several tell-tale signs can help you understand when your dental implant is no longer serving its purpose. Whether from a chronic disease, inconsistent oral hygiene practices or another factor, you may feel severe pain in or around your implants, and your gums may be swollen or inflamed. Another way to tell is if you have a loose implant.

Dental Implant Failure Treatment

Failed dental implant options depend on which type you experience. For example, you can treat peri-implantitis by cleaning your implant. If you begin to develop the disease, make sure to focus on better oral hygiene. If you experience damage or stress to your bone, the first step is to remove the inflamed tissue around the implant. From there, a bone graft may be necessary. Subject to the level of damage within your mouth, you may need a crown removal and replacement.

Call Hiossen Implants for More Information

Many people ask, “Can dental implants fail?” or “Can a failed dental implant be replaced?” Hiossen Implants is here to tell you the answer is “Yes.” However, taking proper steps to maintain your oral hygiene as well as your overall health can help ensure your story is a successful one. Contact a representative or call us at 888-678-0001 to learn more about our products and services.