Dental implants are often recommended as a long-term solution to beautifying your smile. Dental implants don’t fail often, but in some cases, failures do happen. What happens if your dental implant fails largely depends on why it failed. Let’s start with how you might know your implant has failed.
Signs a Dental Implant has Failed
The causes behind why your dental implant has failed may vary. However, you’ll generally see the following symptoms:
- A loose or moveable implant
- Swelling of your gums
- Gum recession around the implant
- Difficulty chewing
- Severe pain
If you’re experiencing any of those symptoms, you’ll want to contact your dentist as soon as possible. Waiting to get back in the office will only translate into a more significant problem.
What Will Your Dentist Do When a Dental Implant Fails?
What your dentist does in the event of a dental implant failure depends on the reason it has failed. Here are the possibilities.
Dental Implant Breakage
One reason dental implants fail is if the implant breaks. As long as your jawbone is not damaged when this happens, there is no need for a major operation.
Should you have a broken implant, your dentist will remove it and replace it with a new one. Additionally, your dentist will work with you to understand why it broke to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
Failure of Osseointegration
Another, and likely the most common cause of dental implant failure, is an improper bonding with your jawbone. When the implant doesn’t bond adequately with your jawbone, it can cause some of the above-listed symptoms. The bonding progression is called osseointegration.
If your jawbone isn’t dense enough to support the implant, or if it becomes infected, that can interfere with the osseointegration process. Should this be the cause of your dental implant failure, your dentist will first address any infection you have before replacing the implant after your bone has healed.
In the event your jawbone is no longer dense enough to bond with a new implant, as may happen with severe bone loss, your dentist may recommend a bone graft. This is a process where new bone, either from your own body or a human tissue bank, is introduced to your jawbone to encourage new bone growth.
Give Us a Call for More Information!
If you’re experiencing these symptoms or think your dental implant might be failing, we’re here to help. Give the office of Aesthetic Dental Partners a call to make an appointment today.
