Dental implants have become the most reliable, predictable, and natural-looking tooth replacements. Once they settle in your jawbone, dental implants stay put for life with proper care.

While dental implants are durable, their success depends on many factors — most of which are within your control. Dr. Cole Sutak in Lubbock, Texas, explains why implants fail and how it can be prevented.

Symptoms and causes of dental implant failure

Although these could be symptoms of other problems, the common signs of implant failure include intense discomfort, pus, swelling, gum inflammation, and a loose implant. There are several causes of implant failure, but infection and bone loss are the most common.

Peri-implantitis is an infection similar to periodontal disease that occurs around the implant and surrounding tissues. This condition occurs due to poor oral hygiene after implant placement. When bacteria are allowed to thrive around the implant site, they damage your gums and surrounding bone, detaching your implant.

Your implant could also fail to integrate with your jawbone through osseointegration. This usually happens for patients with bone loss or a dental injury after placement, which loosens or dislodges your implant, causing failure. 

Sometimes, poorly installed implants can lead to failure. Your implant must be placed at a precise location in your jawbone — not too deep, not too shallow, not too close to the surrounding teeth, and definitely not too close to a nerve. Proper planning before implant placement avoids these pitfalls. 

Can implant failure be remedied?

It depends on the cause. In case of implant infection, the situation can be remedied with a dental cleaning and focusing on better oral hygiene in the future. However, if the infection is severe, you may need bone and soft tissue grafting before placing your implant. 

If jawbone loss is the cause, you may need bone grafting to rebuild your bone’s volume and density to support a dental implant.

How to prevent implant failure

The prospect of implant failure is scary, but the good news is that it’s preventable. Observe the tips below to prevent or minimize implant failure:

• Practice good oral hygiene — brush twice daily and floss at least once every day
• Use an alcohol-free antibacterial mouthwash
• Avoid smoking because it slows the healing rate and encourages dental calculus build-up
• Avoid chewy or hard foods until your implants heal
• Wear a nightguard if you are a chronic tooth grinder
• Adhere to your follow-up dental visits

If you want more information about dental implants, please call Lone Star Smiles at (806) 666-1099.

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