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What Happens when my Dental Implant Fails?

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It’s rare for a dental implant to fail – in fact, 95% of dental implant procedures are successful. Although failure is rare, with the information in this blog, you will know what steps to take if your dental implant fails

What are the Symptoms of a Failed Dental Implant?

The symptoms of a failed implant are generally the same, no matter why your implant failed.

  • A loose or shifting implant
  • Swelling of the gums
  • Gum recession around the implant
  • Difficulty chewing
  • Severe pain

If you experience any of the above symptoms after your implant has healed, call your dentist to begin treatment for your implant as soon as possible.

Why Did My Dental Implant Fail?

The most common reason for dental implant failure is unsuccessful osseointegration, or when an implant does not bond with your jawbone properly.

Infection, tissue damage surrounding the implant, sinus problems, or allergic reactions and rejection can also cause implants to fail.

What Do I Do if My Dental Implant Fails?

If you’re experiencing these symptoms, it’s possible that your dental implant failed – so what can you do?
First, you should contact your dentist to determine the cause of the failure. Treatment of your implant depends upon why it failed, so talking to your dentist is the best way to achieve proper treatment.

If your implant is infected, you can gently clean the area regularly until you can meet with your dentist and receive additional treatment. As always, good oral hygiene is also extremely important. If the infection is detected and treated early, you are likely to recover quickly.

If your implant is failing due to stress or damage, however, you may need to get a bone graft to secure the implant. Dental implants can only be placed where the bone is dense enough to support the implant – therefore, if bone damage or loss has caused the implant to fail, a graft of stronger bone will be needed to secure the implant. This process may require removal of the implant and time for the area to heal before performing more procedures.

How Can I Prevent My Dental Implant from Failing?

As always, prevention is easier than dealing with a failed implant. Properly maintaining your implants by keeping up good oral hygiene – brushing, flossing, and using an alcohol-free antibacterial mouthwash twice a day – makes a drastic difference towards preventing infection.

In addition, adding more foods like milk, eggs, and fish to your diet can help strengthen your bones and gums. These changes will help you avoid implant failure due to low bone density.

Finally, schedule regular visits to your dentist. Visiting your dentist is crucial to the health of your dental implant – and your entire mouth! It is best to visit your dentist every three to six months.

If you’re concerned about the health of your dental implants, schedule an appointment with Dr. Mullins today.

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Dr. Wesley Mullins

Dentist at My Family Dentistry
We're so glad you've found My Family Dentistry, and we want you to get to know us! My Family Dentistry serving Powell and Knoxville, TN practices a uniquely comfortable dentistry approach to dental services.