Do you suffer from tooth loss? If you’re considering a tooth implant procedure, here’s everything you need to know about the early and late signs of dental implant failure and how to avoid them.
Contrary to popular opinion, tooth replacement options such as dentures and tooth implants aren’t just for seniors! The truth is that tooth loss can occur at any age and is often caused by a variety of factors, such as:
- Poor oral hygiene
- Advanced periodontal disease
- Lifestyle factors such as tobacco chewing or smoking
- Dental cavities
- Injuries
- Low finances
Affordable and Quality Tooth Implants and Dentures in Calgary
At Future Smiles, we are dedicated to protecting the oral and overall health of all our patients, whatever their age. We offer a wide range of tooth replacement solutions, including tooth implants, full/partial dentures, and flexible partials, to give you a more functional and aesthetically pleasing smile.
Whatever your age, lifestyle, needs, and budget, we have the expertise, state-of-the-art equipment, and advanced solutions to meet all your tooth loss needs.
Want to know more?
Tooth Implant Failure: What Causes It?
A dental implant is a metal post that is surgically attached to your jaw bone in order to support a crown (artificial tooth). Once in place, your denturist will mount the crown onto the implant.
Tooth implants are very popular because they’re stable, natural looking, and have a very high success rate. However, there are some patients who experience dental implant failure either shortly after their procedure or for months afterwards.
Here are just some reasons why:
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Gum disease. An untreated infection may develop around the implant and cause it to become loose and fail. Always treat gum disease before having a tooth implant treatment.
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Smoking. Smoking restricts blood flow to the gums, slows the healing process, and increases the likelihood of your implants failing. (Why Smoking and Implants Don’t Go Together >)
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Medical conditions. If you suffer from conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes, dental implant failure is a possibility.
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Poor oral hygiene. Neglecting your oral hygiene after an implant procedure can have an impact on your success rate.
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An inexperienced surgeon. By working with an inexperienced surgeon, you may increase your risk of implant failure.
Early Dental Implant Failure and Problems
Keep in mind that you may experience some degree of pain or discomfort after your tooth implant surgery, which can be managed with pain medication. However, you should talk to your denturist if the pain doesn’t improve after 5-7 days.
While pain and swelling are common after surgery, make sure to keep an eye out for any complications that may develop due to:
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Infection at the implant site. An infection develops during or after a tooth implant surgery. Risk factors of this include having an autoimmune disease, being a smoker, and having bad oral hygiene.
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Micromovements of the implant. This can occur when your implant lacks stability. This often occurs when a surgeon attaches the artificial tooth immediately to the implant.
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Insufficient bone support. Early stage tooth implant failure can occur if you don’t have sufficient bone to support it, yet your surgeon proceeds with the treatment anyway. That’s why it’s important to work with an experienced and professional denturist or implant surgeon.
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Allergic Reaction. If you are allergic to titanium alloy, you may develop swelling, loss of taste, or tingling, and the implant will have to be removed. If you do have an allergy, make sure to mention this to your denturist beforehand.
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Failure to follow your doctor’s instructions. To lower your risk of complications, you must follow your surgeon’s post-surgical care advice. This includes eating soft foods until the implant site heals, avoiding hard foods, and practicing good oral hygiene.
Suffering From Dental Implant Failure?
Late Dental Implant Failure and Problems
Even though your tooth implant surgery can be an immediate success, you may develop complications years later. Here are some long-term complications that could develop:
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Nerve or tissue damage can occur when your surgeon places an implant too close to the nerve. Signs of this include numbness of your tongue, lips, gums, or face.
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Foreign body rejection. While this isn’t common, it can happen. Signs include increased pain at the treatment site, swelling, fever, and chills.
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Implant protruding into the sinus cavity occurs when an implant is placed in the upper jaw.
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Injury to the area surrounding your dental implant may loosen it, resulting in failure.
To minimize the likelihood of long-term implant failure, make sure to always practice good dental hygiene and always visit your dentist for routine checkups.
Call Today
To find out more about the costs and benefits of our tooth implants and other tooth replacement solutions, including dentures and flexible partials, contact us at (403) 475-0016 or book a FREE consultation. You can find our clinics at 7015 Macleod Trail SW, Suite 113 or 23 Coral Springs Blvd NE, Calgary, AB T3J 4J1.
