Causes of Dental Implant Failure

Statistics have shown that risk of dental implant failure is about five percent for lower jaw implants and ten percent for upper jaw implants. But one of the most confusing aspects of dental implant failure is that in one person having multiple implants, perhaps all but one of the implants will be successful. There has been no way, to this point, to determine what causes selective dental implant failure.

Some dental surgeons have suggested that this kind of dental implant failure is the result of bacteria present in the jawbone before an implant is inserted; when the implant is screwed into the bone, it unleashes the bacteria and turns them loose in the tissue surrounding the implant. As long as the other implants are placed in bacteria free bone, they will heal cleanly and quickly, but the germ-infested implant will eventually become inflamed, never healing correctly, and the implant will eventually fail.

Dental Implant Rejection

Dental implant failure is not the same as dental implant rejection. Dental implants are made of titanium, a metal which, because of its "inert" nature, has been used for nearly forty years in hip replacements. Titanium causes no adverse reactions in human tissue, and when it is commercially pure, no allergic reactions.

A dental implant, however, can become contaminated at the factory where they are made, even though all dental implant manufacturers must comply with strict FDA quality standards. Or it could get contaminated in the dentist's office during the implantation procedure, although all dental surgeons and periodontists are also expected to follow the highest sanitation practices.

Whatever the underlying cause of a dental implant failure, the failure is most likely to surface shortly after the implant procedure. Anyone experiencing excessive discomfort or bleeding after an implant procedure should contact their dental surgeon immediately.

Additional Caused For Dental Implant Failure

But dental implant failure can also be the result of the patient's neglect of aftercare. The dental surgeon will provide a clear set of instructions on caring for the new implant, and it is essential that the instructions be followed. If, in spite of maintaining the implant properly, the patient still develops swelling or tenderness around the implant, it could be a sign of infections and the dentist should be consulted as soon as possible.

A dental implant failure can also occur if the implant has been improperly situated. A poorly placed implant will be disturbed by the mouth's biting motion; and people who know they grind their teeth in their sleep should ask their dentists if they are good candidates for dental implants. In most cases the dentist will simply supply you with a mouth keep your teeth grinding at a minimum.

And if, in spite of your best efforts, you experience dental implant failure, you can simply have the implant replaced when the cause of the failure has been determined and eliminated.