Dental implants are permanent replacement teeth. Although rare, especially if performed by top dentists at our dental center dental implant failure can happen. Usually, a failure is in the form of a dental implant infection. Infected dental implants can be treated and the infection removed if you catch it early enough. Look for dental implant infection symptoms and contact your implant dentist if you notice them.
Dental implants are becoming more and more widely used, as dentists recognize the advantages for your health and well-being. The track record for this procedure is impressive, but like any procedure, risks and problems sometimes develop. In this case, dental implant infection or dental implant failure is always possible.
Your dentist uses dental implants as replacement structures for teeth that have fallen out or had to be pulled. A titanium screw is bolted directly into your jawbone and the abutment and crown act as a permanent restoration. The implant fuses with your jawbone over time in a process called osseointegration, providing the same solid connection as a natural tooth.
Dental implant surgery consists of cutting into the gum and drilling holes for the dental implant anchor. Any surgery, especially dental surgery, comes with some risk. Infected dental implants do occur, so it’s best to know what dental implant infection symptoms to look out for.
Reasons for Dental Implant Failure
Less than 5% of dental implants fail. Understanding how and why they fail can prevent more serious problems and a quicker resolution. Risks from dental implant surgery include:
- Dental implant infection, which is the most common risk from any surgical procedure
- Extra infection issues because all food and drink enter your body through your mouth
- Injury or damage to surrounding structures such as other teeth, gums or blood vessels
- Nerve damage, which results in pain, numbness or tingling in your natural teeth, gums, lips or chin
- An upper jaw implant that protrudes into your sinus cavity, causing sinus problems and increased pain
- Dental implant failure due to insufficient bone mass
- Implant failure from an incorrectly positioned implant
- Implant fractures due to product failure, which is rare
- Implant failure because the anchor is too short or narrow for the injection site
- Failure of the fusing process between your jawbone and the titanium screw, which may happen for a variety of reasons
- Cigarette smoking, which increases your chance of dental implant failure
- Diabetes or high blood pressure, which may cause your body to reject the implant
Additionally, if a dentist chooses to immediately load the abutment and permanent crown, the strategy can backfire, leading to implant failure. This situation is extremely rare, as most dentists don’t load the abutment right after the implant procedure. They know the implant may fail because it’s not yet stable enough to withstand the pressure from chewing.
Dental Implant Infection Symptoms
Most oral surgeries involve some discomfort. Bruising and swelling of your gums and face, along with minor bleeding, is not uncommon. But these symptoms aren’t dangerous. If you suspect an infection, you should notice the following symptoms.
Contact your Bronx dentist if you experience:
- Loosening of your tooth or implant structure
- Unusual and continuous bleeding, even after you’ve applied pressure
- Significant swelling of bright red gums
- Swelling and bruising of your face or jaw, especially if it results in a headache
- Fever or chills
- Pus or other foul-smelling discharge
Peri-Implantitis Resulting in Dental Implant Failure
Your experienced dentists in the Bronx of 505 Dental Associates have seen a newer condition emerging lately for patients who’ve had dental implants for several years. Known as peri-implantitis, this condition emerges when bacterial infections and inflammation at the site of a dental implant combine with bone loss. The good news is that peri-implantitis is always preceded by a much milder disease called peri-implant mucositis. Highly treatable, peri-implant mucositis gives you red swollen gums that bleed easily when probed.
Bone loss is painless, so you won’t realize it’s occurring. Careful, diligent oral hygiene, along with regular checkups, can catch diseases before they progress too far. If you have periodontal disease in your family or if you’re a smoker, you’re at higher risk for developing peri-implantitis and the resulting dental implant infection. Removal of the implants and replacing them with a bridge may be your only option.
Solutions for Dental Implant Failure
Most implant failures can be effectively treated if caught early enough. Solutions include the following:
- Antibiotics or surgery arrest the infection or correct damage due to injury.
- Sinus augmentation, lifting existing bone into the sinus cavity, curtails sinus problems.
- Bone grafts shore up insufficient bone mass, but these procedures take time to heal.
- Gum grafts for aesthetic reasons and to protect surrounding teeth may also be required.
- Most dental implants can be redone immediately or after you heal, which may take months.
Though highly successful, dental implant surgery does have risks. Dental implant infection and implant failure do occur, but with quick diagnosis and treatment from your dentist, correcting the underlying problems and restoring your teeth can happen quickly and with good results.
Do you have any questions about dental implant problems? Would you like more information or schedule an appointment with the best implant dentist in Bronx, NY? Please contact our cosmetic dentistry clinic for a consultation with our dental specialist Farzin Farokhzadeh, DDS.