First, a note about dental implants. When placed by a qualified provider, implants have an impressively high success rate. For most people, dental implants are a permanent replacement for missing teeth that feel and function almost the same as their natural teeth. The initial success rate for implants is an impressive 98-99 percent, and the ten-year survival rate for implants is about 95 percent.
That said, implants do fail from time to time, for a variety of reasons.
Do you want to learn more about making your implant procedure a success? Contact Fresno Dental Scan for high quality implant planning services to ensure a successful outcome. Call us at 559-297-6823 to learn about our implant services with Dr. Alex Denes.
Dental implants may fail for several reasons, but none of those reasons include the body failing to accept the implant, as can happen with organ replacement. Implants are made of biocompatible titanium, which means they are readily accepted into the body without the risk of the immune system rejecting the material.
Surgical Problems
An implant may fail due to problems in the surgical placement. If the surgical environment is not sterile, there is a possibility of infection. If your surgeon does not ensure the bone stays at a safe temperature, the surrounding bone may be damaged by the high heat associated with drilling. Your surgeon also needs to make sure the implant is placed at a stable bone site and uses appropriate flap surgery design. This is why we always advise patients to choose their implant dentist very carefully, to ensure he or she has already performed many successful surgeries and is familiar with safe and effective protocols.
Failure to Integrate with the Jawbone
If a patient’s implant is placed properly but fails to integrate with the jawbone, it may be due to poor overall health. If you do not have adequate blood supply to the jaw or are not getting well-balanced nutrition, this may inhibit the new bone growth that stabilizes the implant. Another possible source of failure is unidentified infection, such as infected tooth. If a patient has an untreated tooth or failing root canal near the site of the implant, this can spread bacteria to the implant and cause it to become infected. Additionally, an injury that disturbs or displaces the implant during the osseointegration period may interrupt the process.
Late Stage Failure of Implants
If an implant heals and integrates with the bone, and is deemed a functional success, a failure that occurs after this point is referred to late stage failure.
Late stage failure is often caused by:
Poor Engineering – This happens more with implant dentures as opposed to single tooth implants. If the initial placement of the implants is not structurally sound, there may not be proper support to keep the implants stable.
Poor Oral Hygiene – Failure to keep the implant clean (flossing around the implant) or gum disease can lead to infection and implant failure. Similarly, impacted food may break down the seal around the implant.
Bruxism – A patient with untreated teeth grinding and jaw clenching is at greater risk of damaging an implant, due to exposure to increased friction and pressure.
Medical Conditions – Gum disease, diabetes, and other systemic/metabolic conditions make you more at risk of late stage implant failure.
Contact Fresno Dental Scan to make sure your implant procedure is a success. Our diagnostic tools help ensure proper placement and a more predictable and safe implant surgery. Make an appointment online or call us at 559-297-6823 to learn more.