Dental Implant Failure & Salvage – Branford, CT

Why Do Dental Implants Fail?

Peri-implantitis is the most common cause of failed dental implants. This infection occurs when bacteria attack the tissue around an implant, eating away at the gums and bone until the implant’s base of support is seriously compromised. Improper oral hygiene is often a big contributor to peri-implantitis, but genetics and other factors can also play a role in its development.

Other possible causes of dental implant failure include:

• Unsuccessful osseointegration (an implant never bonds properly with the surrounding bone)
• Physical trauma
• A range of medical conditions, such as cancer or other issues that could interfere with the body’s ability to support dental implants in Branford

Symptoms of Failed Dental Implants

There are two basic categories of dental implant failure. Early implant failure happens soon after the initial placement surgery. Late implant failure could occur anytime, even years or decades after the implants are first placed in the bone.

Symptoms of both types of implant failure are similar and include:

• Abnormal pain. Discomfort is normal during the initial healing period following implant placement surgery. However, extreme pain, as well as pain that occurs after successful osseointegration, indicate the need to visit your dentist.
• An implant feels loose. This could mean that the artificial tooth on top of the implant is damaged, or the problem could stem from the implant itself.
• Swelling, redness, or pus in the gums. These are signs of a possible infection.
• Difficulty using your dental implants. Following osseointegration, it should be easy to speak, chew, and bite with your implants. If you experience problems in these areas, you might be in danger of facing a failed dental implant.

How Dental Implant Salvage Works

If you ever suspect that something is not right with your dental implants, call our team right away. The earlier you seek treatment, the more likely it is that we will be able to get your oral health back on track with conservative procedures. When you come in for your appointment, we will examine your mouth, perhaps use imaging equipment to look beneath your gumline, and strive to determine the cause of the problem. Then, we will be able to design a treatment plan.

In some cases, we can solve a problem via relatively simple measures, such as a new restoration or a prescription for antibiotics. In other cases, however, we must remove a dental implant. Later, after some restorative treatments (such as a bone graft or infection care) and a healing period, we may be able to place a new implant.