Dental Implant Failure & Salvage – Brick Township, NJ
Save Your New Smile
One of the best things about dental implants is their impressive success rate. They do well in more than 95% of cases! Admittedly, though, that does still leave a slight chance that something will go wrong. If you ever start to suspect that something is amiss with one of your implants, call our Brick Township dental team. We will carefully examine your mouth and form a treatment plan for dental implant salvage. We want to save your new smile!
Why Do Dental Implants Fail?
When dental implants fail, it is most commonly due to an infection known as peri-implantitis. It occurs when bacteria invade the tissue around an implant. Over time, it can cause so much damage that the implant loses its base of support. In many cases, poor oral hygiene is a major contributor to the development of peri-implantitis.
Other possible reasons for a failing dental implant include:
- Certain medical conditions, such as some types of cancer.
- Physical trauma, such as what may be caused by an accident or long-term bruxism (teeth grinding).
- Failed osseointegration (failure of an implant to bond with the surrounding tissue).
Symptoms of a Failed Dental Implant
It is important to note that dental implant failure can occur at any time, even months, years, or decades after the original procedure. That is why you should always monitor your oral health; you should be able to seek treatment at the first sign that something is not quite right.
Here are some signs and symptoms that indicate you should visit your dentist:
- Severe or unusual pain. After you heal from your implant treatment process, your new teeth should feel comfortable and natural. Unusual pain and discomfort often point to a developing problem.
- Signs of infection. Pus, swelling, gum discoloration, and gum recession are all potential signs of peri-implantitis.
- An implant feels loose. In some cases, this is a problem with the restoration on top of the implant. In other situations, the implant itself has a problem.
- Difficulty eating. After you adapt to your new teeth, it should be easy for you to enjoy a wide variety of foods. Struggles with eating may indicate dental implant failure.
How Dental Implant Salvage Works
You should book an appointment with us as soon as you notice that something is wrong with one of your implants. The earlier you receive care, the more likely it is that we will be able to solve the problem via conservative means.
When you arrive in our office, we will perform a thorough examination in order to understand what is happening. Thereafter, we will be able to recommend your next steps. You might need something as simple as a course of antibiotics or some adjustments to your oral hygiene routine. However, it is also possible that we will have to remove the failing implant altogether. Later, after a healing period, you may be able to receive a new implant.