Dental Implant Failure & Salvage – Annandale, VA
Effective Care for Failing Dental Implants
We often recommend dental implants to our patients, partly because this procedure has an astonishing success rate of more than 95%! You can rightly expect that your new smile will provide you with reliable function for many years. However, it still must be acknowledged that in rare cases, dental implant failure does occur. If you ever believe that something is amiss with your implants, call our team right away to learn how we provide effective care for failing dental implants. You may be eligible for our dental implant salvage services.
Why Do Dental Implants Fail?
Often, when dental implants fail, it is because of an infection known as peri-implantitis. It occurs when bacteria attack the tissue around an implant. Eventually, it can cause catastrophic damage to the implant’s support system, causing it to loosen. In many cases, poor oral hygiene is a contributing factor to the development of peri-implantitis.
Other potential causes of dental implant failure include:
- This may be caused by teeth grinding, an accident, or other circumstances.
- Failed osseointegration. In rare instances, a patient’s body fails to bond with their implants.
- Underlying medical conditions. Certain types of cancer and other illnesses may interfere with the long-term success of dental implants.
Symptoms of a Failed Dental Implant
Dental implant failure might happen at any time. It could even occur years after the initial placement surgery! Therefore, you should always monitor your oral health and seek professional care at the first sign of a problem.
Here are some indications that you might have a failing dental implant:
- After you heal from your dental implant surgery, you should not experience any significant discomfort. Unusual or severe pain is a red flag that deserves attention.
- Difficulty eating. Implants should enable you to eat virtually any food. Challenges with eating often indicate a major problem.
- Signs of infection. Redness, swelling, pus, and gum recession are all potential signs of peri-implantitis.
- An implant feels loose. This could be a problem with the implant itself or with the restoration (crown, bridge, or denture) that is attached to it.
How Dental Implant Salvage Works
You should request an appointment with our team as soon as you notice that something is not right with your implants. The earlier you receive care, the more likely it is that we can address the situation via conservative means.
During your appointment, we will examine your mouth and possibly take some X-rays. Then, we will be able to recommend your next steps. You might need something relatively simple, such as a course of antibiotics or a new restoration. However, it is also possible that you will require extensive treatment. In some cases, we must completely remove a failing implant. After a recovery period and further restorative care, you might become eligible for a new implant.
Request a Dental Consultation Today
Call Dr. Salari at 703.763.0800 or schedule a dental appointment on our website today. Please let Dr. Salari and her team know if you have any more questions. They will be happy to assist you.