The chances of experiencing a failed dental implant are slim, as the success rate of these prosthetics is around 95% upon initial placement. However, since no oral procedure boasts a perfect score, there is a chance that a problem can occur. What is required to remove it, and how can you avoid this problem in the future? Keep reading to find out what your dentist will do to protect your oral health and restore your smile.
What is the Process of Removing a Failed Dental Implant?
No matter when dental implant failure occurs – early or late – your dentist’s priority is to preserve as much of the bone as possible. This is essential if proper healing and future reimplantation are to occur.
Before removing the implant, your dentist will need to identify the reason for the failure. This can be peri-implantitis – a problem similar to gum disease – unsuccessful osseointegration, improper initial placement, or poor lifestyle habits, like smoking.
The dentist will use specialized instruments to remove a minor portion of the bone, ensuring there is enough space to carefully extract the implant from the socket.
Once it is taken out, successful healing must occur if an implant is to be reinserted. In certain situations, a bone graft and a new prosthetic can be immediately administered following extraction, as it reduces the number of surgeries required. However, this is not always the case, and only your dentist can determine if it’s possible.
If too much bone loss has occurred, it will be necessary to wait until new grafting material integrates with existing bone to create a dense and supporting foundation.
How Can You Avoid Failed Dental Implants in the Future?
Each time a dental implant fails, additional time and money must be spent to fix the problem. If this doesn’t sound like an ideal situation, you’ll need to take the necessary steps to avoid failure. This can include:
- Staying on top of your oral hygiene routine by brushing, flossing, and rinsing each day. Cleaning your teeth and gums in the morning and at night, as well as after mealtimes, will help reduce bacterial accumulation that can cause peri-implantitis.
- Continuing to see your dentist for regular exams and cleanings to allow for a more in-depth look at your smile and determine if any damage or decay may be forming or present.
- Giving up bad habits, like smoking, that can hinder the osseointegration process and prevent proper healing.
- Keeping in touch with your physician if you suffer from any autoimmune disorders or health conditions that can make living with dental implants more challenging (i.e., diabetes).
Failed dental implants don’t have to be your reality. Instead, you can enjoy the kind of smile you want for the rest of your life by taking the necessary precautions to safeguard your real and artificial teeth day in and day out.
About the Author
Dr. Tarangini Suggala is a passionate and trustworthy dentist in Carrollton who completed her dental degree at The Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. With more than a decade of experience, she is pleased to deliver convenient, start-to-finish dental implant placement and restoration for those who need help rebuilding their smile. If a problem involves a failed dental implant, she, too, can address the situation and work to restore a patient’s tooth (or teeth) with the right method of care. Are you noticing your prosthetic tooth doesn’t feel right? If so, visit our website or call (972) 446-1111 to learn how we can help.