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Dental Implant Failure & Salvage - Massapequa Park, NY • Long Island
Keep Your New Teeth Strong
Dental implants have an amazing track record, with a 95% success rate that includes millions of patients across the globe. However, for reasons we’ll discuss below, some people do experience implant failure, and it can be extremely disheartening.
Thankfully, our team can help patients preserve their restored teeth and stop worrying about them. Over the years, we’ve saved hundreds if not thousands of dental implants. If you’re concerned about your dental implants for any reason, reach out to us today to start getting the peace of mind you deserve.
Why Do Dental Implants Fail?
There are three main reasons why a dental implant might fail:
- Failed osseointegration, meaning that the implant and the surrounding bone never formed a strong bond. This could stem from improper healing or how the implant was placed.
- Physical trauma, as a strong blow to the face or teeth can interfere with osseointegration or dislodge a dental implant just like a real tooth.
- Peri-implantitis, which is an infection that can develop in the supporting tissue around a dental implant. It is similar to gum disease and weakens the tissues needed to keep the post firmly in place.
Symptoms of Failed Dental Implants
There are two distinct types of implant failure. Early failure occurs right after the placement surgery, and long-term failure can happen several months or even years following the initial procedure.
Both have similar symptoms, which include:
- Pain near the implant site. Some soreness is expected as you’re healing from the surgery, but this should be minor and go away after a week or so.
- The implant feels loose or noticeably shifts whenever you speak or chew.
- The gums in the area bleed easily, are noticeably swollen and red, or there is a small bump next to the tooth.
How Dental Implant Salvage Works
If your dental implant is giving you any kind of trouble, the best thing you can do is come see us as soon as possible. Waiting will only allow whatever the issue is to become worse!
Our team will examine the implant as well as the nearby gums and bone. In some cases, a deep cleaning and topical/oral antibiotics can help clear away the infection and allow the implant to integrate with your mouth to become strong.
But, if the damage to the bone or implant is too advanced, or if the implant is placed in a way that there is no way it will succeed, it will likely need to be removed and redone. This might include using a bone graft to strengthen the jaw as well as advanced imaging to determine better positioning of the implant.
