What You Should Know About Dental Implants Complications and Failure

Dental implants work by replacing damaged or lost adult teeth. During your appointment, Dr. Fabiola Camacho places a metal post into the bone of your jaw in place of the missing tooth. An artificial tooth is added to the post to make your smile look natural.

When dental implants work accordingly, they turn out to be better than bridgework or dentures. They are more robust than removable teeth and are more comfortable. However, getting implants takes multiple procedures, carries complications, and can sometimes be a failure.

Early and Late Dental Implant Failure

A dental implant is attached to the jaw bone to help support an artificial tooth. Once it’s in place, your dentist in Winter Springs mounts a replacement tooth to the implant.

Implants are mostly successful, but some patients experience dental implant failure. About five to ten percent of dental implants fail, either shortly after the procedure or months to years later.

If you’re scheduled to get your dental implant procedure or have had it recently, here’s what you should know about dental implant failure and potential complications.

What Factors Impact Dental Implant Success?

Several factors can affect the success of an implant. These include:

Gum Disease

One is a good candidate for dental implants if they have healthy gums. Unfortunately, you can’t have a dental implant procedure if you have gum disease.

Gum disease is an infection that damages the jaw, bone, and gums. An untreated infection can develop around the implant and lead to failure. Therefore, you should visit Dr. Robert Burks DDS &Dr. Fabiola Camacho at Winter Springs for gum disease treatment before getting an implant.

Smoking

Smoking causes implant failure because it restricts blood flow to the gums leading to a slow healing process. Research studies show that smokers have a dental implant failure rate of up to 20%.

If you’re a smoker, it doesn’t mean you’re not eligible for a dental implant. However, you’ll have a better outcome if you stop smoking one week before you get a dental implant near you and if you avoid smoking for at least two months after an implant is placed.

Insufficient Jaw Bone

A successful dental procedure is dependent on sufficient bone to help support the implant. If you don’t have enough healthy bone, your dentist can’t place the implant surgically on your jawbone.

Bone loss happens with osteoporosis. This condition develops when your bone density decreases. As a result, bones become fragile, and fractures increase the risk. In addition, severe gum disease might cause deterioration of bones in the mouth.

Medical Conditions

Implant failure is possible if you’re diagnosed with diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, which can cause the body to heal at a slower pace. Slow healing prevents osteointegration, where the implant integrates with your jaw bone.

Also, using some specific medications can lead to dental implant failure. Therefore, discussing any medicines you are taking with your dentist is important.

Poor Dental Maintenance

Proper oral hygiene after a dental implant impacts the success rate. If you have limitations that interfere with the ability to clean your teeth thoroughly, you’re not an appropriate candidate for a dental implant.

An Inexperienced Surgeon

Dealing with an inexperienced surgeon can lead to dental implant failure. On the other hand, an experienced surgeon will know how many implants to use to support tooth replacement. This’s important because few implants can cause excessive stress on the implant and failure.

Late Dental Implant Failure and Problems

Some of the long-term complications of a dental implant include:

• Tissue or nerve damage might occur when a surgeon places an implant too close to a nerve. Some signs of wear include tingling lips, tongue, face, or gums.
• Foreign body rejection is rare, but it can happen. This’s when your body rejects an implant. Signs of rejection include fever, swelling, and increased pain at the implant site.
• Injury to the site surrounding a dental implant might loosen the implant and fail.

You should visit a dentist’s office near you for routine checkups to minimize the likelihood of long-term problems.

 Signs of Dental Implant Failure?

If you’re suffering from early or late-stage dental implant failure, signs of the complication include:

• Gum inflammation
• Experiencing severe pain or discomfort
• You have difficulty chewing
• Increased swelling
• Gum recession
• Having a replaced tooth or loosening an implant