Is your dental implant sore, swollen, sensitive, or loose? This state-of-the-art tooth replacement option has a success rate of 95%, which means dental implant failure is still a possibility. Your dental implant can begin to show signs of failing not long after placement or many years afterwards, so it’s important to know what to look out for. Fortunately, at Jacksonville Complete Dentistry, we offer dental implant salvage for saving your rebuilt smile should you need it. To learn more about dental implant failure and salvage, read on or give us a call today.
The most common cause of dental implant failure is peri-implantitis. This is an infection in the gums around the dental implant, often caused by poor oral hygiene. Over time, the bacteria eventually damage the supportive tissues around the implant post, which causes it to become loose and eventually fail. Peri-implantitis can occur many years after dental implant placement surgery, or an infection can develop during the initial healing process.
There are only a few other reasons why a dental implant would fail. One would be failed osseointegration, where the body and dental implant did not fuse properly. A very serious injury to the face or jaw could potentially knock your dental implant loose. Or, certain medical conditions such as osteoporosis could contribute to a failed dental implant.
The most common warning signs of a failing dental implant include:
If you notice any signs of dental implant failure, don’t wait to give us a call. Even if you are unsure if your symptoms indicate dental implant failure, we encourage you to contact us right away. We’ll see you quickly for an evaluation and determine the state of your dental implant. In some cases, we may be able to save your smile with simple solutions like antibiotic therapy or a thorough deep cleaning. However, in more serious instances, we may need to remove your dental implant in order to treat the underlying issue.