The prospect of restoring your smile by replacing missing teeth with dental implants can be exciting. Dental implants offer a long-lasting, natural-looking solution to tooth loss. However, knowing about the potential for dental implant failure and how to minimize the risk is essential.
Unfortunately, some dentists with inadequate training attempt the placement and restoration of dental implants. However, Dr. Gilbert Tostado is a prosthodontist—a specialist who specializes in the replacement of missing teeth, including the use of dental implants. Dr. Acuña Malo has advanced training in oral surgery. You are in excellent hands at 5 Star Dental Group.
What Causes Dental Implant Failure?
Dental implant failure may relate to poor planning, procedure mistakes, substandard implant fixtures, or lack of a patient’s post-surgery compliance. Like any surgical procedure, certain factors can increase the risk of dental implant failure. Understanding the causes is the first step in prevention:
- Shortcuts during the diagnostic phase: A two-dimensional panographic X-ray cannot ensure a dentist properly places dental implants. A 3D cone-beam CT scan will reveal the location of nerves, your nasal structure, and the area around the missing tooth. It also determines if you have enough bone volume to support the implants.
- Inadequate medical history: An implant dentist’s thorough review of your medical history reveals how certain medical conditions can affect your treatment. When medical conditions, such as diabetes, are uncontrolled, they can impair tissue and bone healing.
- Incorrect placement: Inadequate diagnostic studies or miscommunication between the restorative dentist and the implant surgeon can cause implant misplacement.
- Substandard dental implant fixtures: Few dental implant manufacturers invest heavily in research and development and have published juried research and test results documenting the quality of their implant fixtures. Although cheap implant components can be a fraction of the cost of high-quality components, they can result in infection, loose implants, and failure.
- Infection: Lack of diligent oral hygiene allows bacteria to invade your gums, jawbone, and the implant site. Infection prevents proper healing and leads to implant failure.
- Overloading: Excessive premature force on implants can cause them to loosen. Adequate time needs to be given for osseointegration before loads are placed. Special high-precision techniques can allow for immediate moderate loads on the implants, but those techniques need to be followed scrupulously.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Dental Implant Failure?
The signs and symptoms of dental implant failure may include discomfort or implant fixture problems. Seek intervention promptly to prevent complications if you notice the following:
- Pain or discomfort: Pain or discomfort around the implant site, especially during chewing or biting, is a common sign of implant failure.
- Nerve problems: Tingling or numbness can indicate that an implant is impinging on a nerve.
- Redness or swelling: Gum inflammation and redness around the implant site can indicate infection or bone loss.
- Loose implant: An implant should feel solid, with no movement at all. If you detect movement, it is an early sign of impending failure.
How Can You Prevent or Correct Dental Implant Failure?
You can reduce the risk of dental implant failure and ensure the long-term success of your implants.
Preventing dental implant failure
Take these precautions to help minimize the risks of dental implant failure.
Consult an implant dentist with adequate post-graduate training
Choosing an experienced and qualified dental implant specialist with post-graduate training in implantology minimizes your risk of dental implant failure. Dr. Tostado, as a prosthodontist, is an implant specialist. Dr. Acuña Malo also has advanced training in implant surgery. They adhere to the following process:
- Thoroughly review your medical history
- Uses a 3D cone-beam CT scan for diagnostic studies and your treatment plan
- Precisely place high-quality dental implants using 3D-guided navigation
Adhere to post-surgical instructions
Follow Dr. Acuña Malo’s instructions carefully after your implant surgery. Promote healing and prevent complications with these steps:
- Maintain good oral hygiene
- Avoid disturbing the dental implant sites
- Adhere to instructions if a soft-food diet is recommended while healing
- Avoid smoking
- Manage underlying health conditions
Correcting dental implant failure
If you have received implants from another dentist and are experiencing dental implant failure, we can evaluate your case. We will complete an exam and diagnostic studies to explain what is required to remove and replace the dental implants and restore your oral health. At 5 Star Dental Group, you are in the hands of specialists. Our training will give you safe, predictable results.
Schedule a Consultation
Understanding the causes and signs of dental implant failure can maximize your chances of success so your dental implants last. Call us or complete our appointment request form for a consultation.