Dental Implant Failure & Salvage – Rolling Meadows, IL
Preserve Your Restored Smile
Did you know that dental implants are successful in more than 95% of cases? You can rightly expect your new teeth to stand the test of time! However, it must still be admitted that in rare instances, dental implant failure can occur. If you ever believe that is happening to you, contact our Rolling Meadows dental team. We will assess the problem and recommend a treatment plan for dental implant salvage. We want to preserve your restored smile!
Why Do Dental Implants Fail?
When a dental implant fails, it is most commonly due to a specific type of infection known as peri-implantitis. It is the result of a bacterial invasion that attacks the tissue around an implant. Eventually, it can cause so much damage that the implant no longer has a sturdy base of support. Often, poor oral hygiene is a major contributor to the development of peri-implantitis.
Other potential causes of dental implant failure include:
- Failed osseointegration (failure of the implant to bond with the surrounding bone tissue).
- Underlying medical conditions, such as some types of cancer.
- Physical trauma, such as what may be caused by an accident or teeth grinding.
Symptoms of a Failed Dental Implant
Dental implant failure can occur at any time — even months or years after the initial placement surgery. Therefore, you should always monitor your oral health and seek treatment at the first sign of a problem. Here are some symptoms that you should be on the lookout for:
- After you heal from your implant surgery, your implants should feel comfortable in your mouth. Unusual or severe pain indicates that something is wrong.
- Signs of infection. Pus, swelling, gum recession, and redness in the gum tissue are all possible signs of peri-implantitis.
- Difficulty chewing. After you adapt to using your implants, you should find it easy to enjoy a wide variety of foods. Difficulties with eating constitute a red flag that should not be ignored.
- An implant feels loose. In some cases, a loose-feeling implant is a problem with the crown, bridge, or denture on top of your prosthetic tooth root. In other instances, there is a problem with the implant itself.
How Dental Implant Salvage Works
You should request an appointment with us as soon as you believe something is off with one of your implants. The sooner you receive care, the more likely it is that we can address the problem via conservative means.
When you arrive at our office, we will ask about your symptoms and perform a thorough examination. We may also take some X-rays in order to understand what is happening beneath your gumline. Then, we will be able to advise you on your next steps. You might need something fairly simple, such as a course of antibiotics. It is also possible that you will require more extensive care. In some cases, we must completely remove a failing dental implant. After a healing period, you may be able to receive a new one.