Dental Implant Failure & Salvage – Muskegon, MI
Address Issues with Your Tooth Replacement
It’s true that dental implants carry a success rate that hovers somewhere between 95% and 98%, but they do still carry a small risk for failure. While they typically last for decades without any issues, there are rare occasions where symptoms can appear that indicate the implant is failing. In the event you do experience these symptoms, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team at Healthy Smiles Dental Care. Our dentists will work quickly to save your dental implant if possible as well as go over all your options during your appointment.
Why Do Dental Implants Fail?
While there are multiple causes for dental implant failure, one of the most common is a condition known as peri-implantitis. This is an infection that develops when bacteria damage and destroy the connective tissue around the implant and weaken the supporting jawbone structure. It’s usually something that happens as a result of poor oral hygiene, which can lead to gum disease.
However, dental implants can also fail for reasons unrelated to poor at-home oral hygiene. For example, a physical injury could knock the implant loose or out entirely (much like a natural tooth), the implant could have failed to integrate properly with the bone, or an existing condition could have negatively impacted the implant’s ability to heal.
Symptoms of Failed Dental Implants
Dental implant failure is not something that exclusively happens within the first year the implant is placed. Failure can occur at any time, which is why it’s so important to stay on top of routine oral hygiene and be on the lookout for symptoms that could indicate failure. Some of the most common signs to be aware of include:
- Increased difficulty chewing
- Gum inflammation
- Receding gum tissue
- Swelling around the implant
- The implant feels loose
- Severe pain or discomfort
How Dental Implant Salvage Works
Even if you have only the slightest suspicion that your dental implant is failing, don’t leave it up to chance. Call our office to schedule an exam and we’ll take a closer look. The sooner we catch any problems, the more likely we may be able to save the tooth (as well as help you save money on future treatment).
During dental implant salvage, we’ll examine your tooth and take note of your symptoms in order to create a treatment plan. The treatment we recommend could include a deep dental cleaning, antibiotics, and other conservative infection control measures to save your implant. If the damage is too significant, we may need to remove your implant altogether. Once we restore your oral health, we can discuss options to replace your dental implant. Depending on the condition of your bone tissue, a bone graft could be necessary to give your implant what it needs to integrate properly.