Dental Implant Complications & Failures

Dental implants are metal posts or frames that are surgically positioned into the jawbone beneath your gums. Once in place, they allow your dentist to mount replacement teeth onto them. Dental implants also benefit general oral health because they do not have to be anchored to other teeth, like bridges.

Dental implants provide stable support for artificial teeth. Dentures and bridges mounted to implants won’t slip or shift in your mouth which is very beneficial when eating and speaking. This secure fit helps the dentures and bridges.

For some people, ordinary bridges and dentures are not comfortable, due to sore spots or poor ridges. An advantage of implants is that no adjacent teeth need to be prepared or ground down to hold your new replacement tooth/teeth in place. A person must have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant. After getting the implants, one must also keep these structures healthy.

Factors that impact dental implant success

1- Gum disease : Healthy gums are important for dental implant surgery, and you can’t have this procedure with gum disease. So, see a dentist to treat gum disease before getting an implant.

2- Smoking: Smoking can also cause dental implant failure as it slows the healing process of the gums. However, it doesn’t mean that a smoker is ineligible for a dental implant. A smoker can quit smoking few weeks before the dental implant.

3- Insufficient jaw bone : A successful procedure is also required to have healthy bones to support the implant. Without enough healthy bone, the surgeon cannot surgically place the implant into your jaw. Severe gum disease can also cause deterioration of bones in the mouth.

4- Medical conditions: Dental implant failure is a possibility if you’re diagnosed with an autoimmune disease or conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes, which causes the body to heal at a slower pace.

5- Poor dental maintenance: One must also exhibit good oral hygiene after a dental implant as this also has an impact on the success rate.

Signs of dental implant failure

If you have an early or late-stage dental implant failure, signs of a complication include.

1- Difficulty in chewing

2- Gum inflammation

3- Severe pain or discomfort

4- Increased swelling

5-Loosening of an implant or a replaced tooth

Preventive care

1-Properly care for your dental implants. Visit a dentist every six months.

2- Stop smoking

3- Ask your dentist about a mouth guard

4- Don’t get immediate tooth replacement after an implant procedure.

5- Avoid habits that damage the teeth like eating ice and candy

Dental implant alternatives

1- Dental bridge :This is a fixed prosthetic device used to fill gaps of missing teeth. There are a few types of dental bridges:

👉 Resin : Bonded bridge which is also known as a Maryland bridge, it consists of a fake tooth. This type doesn’t require teeth to be ground down or prepared the way that a traditional bridge would.

👉 Traditional Bridge: A fixed-bridge uses existing teeth as support to a fake tooth. The fake tooth is “bridged” using crowns on the existing teeth on either side of the gap it’s filling.

👉 This bridge supports the fake tooth on one side only. Otherwise, it’s the same as a traditional bridge, using and capping an existing tooth to support the fake one.

Check Why Dental Implant Hurt