Dental Implant Failure & Salvage – Austin, TX
Save Your Restored Smile
Dental implants boast an astonishing success rate of over 95%! However, that does still leave the small chance that something can go wrong. If you ever notice painful or unusual symptoms around your implants, call us right away. We will evaluate the situation and do everything we can to save your restored smile. Our goal is always to address such situations as conservatively and efficiently as possible so you can get back to enjoying all the benefits of implant-supported tooth replacement.
Why Do Dental Implants Fail?
The most common cause of dental implant failure is a type of infection known as peri-implantitis. It occurs when harmful bacteria flourish in the tissue around an implant. Eventually, the bacteria can cause so much damage that the jawbone is no longer able to support dental implants. In many cases, poor oral hygiene is at least partially responsible for the development of peri-implantitis.
Other possible reasons for dental implant failure include:
- Certain medical conditions, such as some types of cancer
- Failed osseointegration (the implant never bonds properly with the jawbone)
- Physical trauma, such as that caused by teeth grinding or an accident
Symptoms of a Failed Dental Implant
Dental implant failure might occur at any time, even months or years after the initial placement surgery. Therefore, you should always be alert to signs that something is wrong with your prosthetic teeth. Here are some indications that you should book an appointment with us:
- Unusual pain. After you adapt to using your implants, they should feel comfortable and natural in your mouth. Pain can point to a major problem.
- Signs of infection. Pus, redness, swelling, and gum recession are all potential signs of peri-implantitis.
- Difficulty chewing. Your dental implants should enable you to eat virtually any food. Difficulties in this area indicate that something is amiss.
- An implant feels loose. In some cases, a loose-feeling implant is a problem with the crown, bridge, or denture that sits above the gumline. In other cases, something is wrong with the implant itself.
How Dental Implant Salvage Works
You should schedule an appointment with us as soon as you suspect that something is not right with your implants. The earlier you receive care, the more likely it is that the problem can be resolved via conservative means.
During your appointment, we will examine your mouth, take some X-rays, and learn about your symptoms. From there, we can recommend your next steps. In some cases, something as simple as prescription mouthwash or a course of antibiotics is all that is needed. In other cases, we must refer patients to a local specialist who will remove the failing implant altogether. Later, after a healing period and a possible bone graft, you may be able to get an entirely new implant.