How Can You Tell If Dental Implants Are Failing?

You’ve finally received your dental implants to rebuild a missing tooth, allowing you to enjoy a complete smile again. While the treatment is known to have an incredibly high success rate, there’s still a rare chance that they can develop complications. Whether you’ve had them for several weeks or a few years, the possibility of failure exists, and you’ll want to know what to do if issues start to occur. Keep reading to learn what causes this situation, the common symptoms of a failed dental implant, and how you can preserve your newly rebuilt smile.

The Potential Causes of Dental Implant Failure

While there is an incredibly slim chance that your titanium posts will fail, some of the typical reasons this can happen include:

• Peri-implantitis—an infection similar to gum disease
• Failed osseointegration, meaning the implant and bone didn’t bond properly
• Physical trauma to the face, causing the implant to loosen
• Improper placement of the implant during the treatment

Regardless of the reason, you’ll want to seek help from your dentist straight away. They’ll assess the root cause of the problem and determine the ideal approach to addressing the situation to avoid further complications.

What Are the Symptoms of a Failed Dental Implant?

Your dentist is the only one who can officially say whether your dental implants have failed or not. However, if you suspect you might be at risk, you can still keep a lookout for some of the common signs, such as:

• An infection that develops in the gums surrounding the implant
• Swelling or discomfort around the implant
• A loose or weakened dental implant
• A receding gumline
• Trouble chewing

How Do You Prevent Dental Implant Failure?

To avoid requiring another round of dental implant surgery to preserve your complete smile, you’ll need to follow your dentist’s specific aftercare instructions. You can effectively reduce your risk of treatment failure by taking the following precautions:

• Brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash regularly
• Wearing custom mouthguards/nightguards if you play contact sports or grind/clench your teeth
• Avoiding bad habits like smoking, which increases your risk of infection, gum disease, and failed osseointegration
• Consuming more calcium to help strengthen your bone tissue
• Visiting your dentist twice a year for routine checkups and cleanings

As long as you take the proper preventive measures after your surgery, you should be able to make the most of your dental implants for decades to come! Speak with your dentist if you notice any issues, and they’ll be more than happy to help preserve your new pearly whites.

About the Author

Dr. Terry L. Drennan has been providing exceptional and reliable dental care for well over four decades. He studied at the University of Texas Dental School at San Antonio Health Science Center, regularly seeks continuing education, and is a member of various organizations such as the American Dental Association and the Fort Worth District Dental Society. If you need to schedule an appointment due to concerns with your dental implants, don’t hesitate to visit our website or call 817-732-5522.