Dental implants sport an enormous success rate – about 95 percent of patients go on to enjoy the benefits of the procedure for decades. But every now and then, failure does happen. What exactly does it mean for an implant to fail – what does it feel like? In this article, you’ll learn how to spot the signs that your implant isn’t working and what to do when it doesn’t succeed.
Why Do Dental Implants Fail?
Dental implants can fail due to several factors, including:
- Gum disease around the implant.
- Failure of the implant to fuse with the jawbone (osseointegration).
- Excessive force placed on the implant.
- Infection.
- Poor oral hygiene.
- Underlying medical conditions, like diabetes or osteoporosis.
How Can I Tell If My Dental Implants Have Failed?
The number one way to tell if your implant has failed is a loose or wobbly feeling. For an implant to be successful, the titanium post that’s surgically placed in the jawb must fuse with the bone to form a solid foundation. When the bone doesn’t grow properly around the implant, the hold is not secure, and the result is instability. At first, the looseness may be subtle and only detected by a dentist, but over time, the implant could become free enough to move when you chew or speak.
You may also experience persistent and worsening pain after the procedure, which could be a potential sign of nerve damage, infection, or poor implant placement.
Other signs include difficulty or pain when chewing or biting, gum inflammation and recession, swelling or pus formation around the implant site, or a bad taste or smell near the implant.
Can My Dental Implants Be Fixed?
There is hope! A failed dental implant can be taken out using just local anesthesia. If the surrounding bone remains healthy, your implant can simply be replaced.
However, if there’s been bone loss, your dentist may suggest a bone graft to strengthen the area before a new implant is placed. The graft will need time to heal before the replacement can be done. During this healing period, your dentist will likely talk with you about addressing any issues that may have led to the implant failure – such as smoking or poor dental care.
How Can I Avoid Dental Implant Failure?
A consistent oral hygiene routine can help prevent issues that lead to implant failure, like gum disease or infection. Implants should be cared for in the same way natural teeth are maintained: brush them for two minutes twice a day, floss regularly, and use an antibacterial mouthwash. Practice further preventive care by visiting the dentist every 6 months for checkups and cleanings.
Chewing on hard objects like ice, pen caps, or hard candies can put too much pressure on your implants and cause them to fail, so you’ll want to steer clear of these habits. Other practices like smoking cigarettes and using tobacco should also be avoided as they can disrupt overall healing and the integration of jawbone and implant post.
Dental implants should work and feel like your natural teeth. When something starts to feel strange in your mouth, it could be a sign that they are not succeeding. Visit your dentist as soon as possible to determine what’s going on and get the treatment you need before it’s too late.
About the Practice
Are you having issues with your dental implants? It’s not too late to fix them! Drs. A Faris Waheed and Amanda M. Panousis and our team at Baldwin Family Dental can restore your smile through dental implant salvage treatment. The sooner the issue is caught, the easier it is to treat! Call us today at (850) 215-0128 to schedule your appointment or visit us online.