Are Your Dental Implants Failing?

After investing so much time and money into one of the newest and most advanced dental procedures, dental implants, the last thing you want is for them to fail due to a variety of reasons. Knowing what can increase your risk of dental implant failure can help you take the necessary steps to prevent it from happening. Additionally, spotting the symptoms early could be the key to a successful treatment. Don’t lose out on all the benefits this procedure has to offer by putting your implants at risk for failure. Read on to learn how you can save your new restorations.

What Causes Implant Failure?

Dental implants only have about a 5% failure rate. This can be due to many factors. Choosing an experienced dentist that is careful and skilled can give you peace-of-mind when it comes to getting the procedure. Other reasons that can cause dental implants to fail include:

• Autoimmune Diseases: If you’re a patient who has illnesses such as celiac disease, type 1 diabetes, lupus, multiple sclerosis, or rheumatoid arthritis, your body is more likely to reject your implants.
• Infections: Peri-implantitis is one of the most common infections that affects implants. This is a type of gum disease that can form because of an open wound or dental cement that leaks under the restoration.
• Poor Blood Supply: If you’re experiencing a lack of blood-flow to and from your mouth, this can slow down or stop the healing process.

Other factors that could cause implant failure include poor health, not enough healing time between surgeries, allergic reactions, and nerve or tissue damage.

What Are The Symptoms of Implant Failure?

So, how can you tell if your implants are beginning to fail? Even though there’s several reasons you may be experiencing issues, the symptoms are typically the same across the board. Some signs to look out for include:

• Pain and discomfort.
• Loose or shifting implants.
• Swollen or inflamed gums.
• Receding gums around the implants.
• Difficulty chewing.

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to contact your implant dentist immediately. Depending on the cause, your dentist will determine what treatment will be best for you.

How Can You Reduce Your Risk Of Implant Failure?

Before you experience any signs of implant failure, take proper care of them by keeping up with your oral hygiene. Be sure to brush twice a day, floss, and use alcohol-free mouthwash. Additionally, visiting your dentist every 6 months for your checkup and cleaning can help spot and treat any signs or symptoms of oral health problems before they turn into something more serious. Lastly, try maintaining a nutritious diet to help boost your jawbone and gum health like fish, milk, and eggs.

Dental implants have a laundry list of benefits to offer you and are well worth the investment. Just remember that in order to reap those benefits, it’s important to take care of your oral health and be on the lookout for symptoms.

About the Author

Dr. Sarah Yarnell offers her patients over 7 years of experience and knowledge. She enjoys helping her patients achieve their best possible smile. For most of her career, she has practiced and studied restoring smiles for patients who have suffered from tooth loss. She strives to help patients feel comfortable and well-cared-for in her state-of-the-art office. For questions or to schedule a consultation for dental implants, visit Woodsprings Family Dentistry’s website or contact 870-932-8488.