If you need to replace a missing tooth, your Yuba City Dentist may recommend a dental implant since it is typically preferred over other options (such as a permanent bridge or removable dentures). The placement of dental implants is a routine procedure; however, as with any medical procedure, there is a small chance that a patient will not achieve desired results.
Implant surgery is successful more than 90% of the time.
However, occasionally an implant fails to fully integrate with the surrounding bone tissue. The loose implanted tooth has “failed” and must be removed.
Implants fail due to a variety of reasons, including the following:
- Surgical trauma
- Infection surrounding the implant
- Smoking: This practice decreases blood flow to the healing gums and bone, interfering with the bonding process
- Insufficient bone tissue: If there is not enough bone for the implant to anchor to, the implant will not be stable
- Patient allergy to titanium
Problems with implants may also develop years after placement. If bacteria infects the gum surrounding an implant, a form of gum disease known as periimplantitis may occur. Your dentist can normally treat this condition similarly to the way he or she would treat gum disease affecting your natural teeth and gums; however, if left untreated periimplantitis will lead to bone loss.
An implant or implant-supported restoration may also break over time. If your bite (the way your teeth come together) is not properly aligned, it’s possible that too much force is applied to the implanted tooth, causing it to fail.
Typically, a failed implant and restoration are removed and a new one is placed. In most cases, the new implant is successful and will last the rest of a patient’s lifetime.
