Signs of Dental Implant Failure and What to Do Next

Key Takeaways:

• Dental implant success rates consistently exceed 90%, making them among the most effective and durable prosthetic devices in healthcare. 
• While dental implants can fail, early intervention can often save them. 
• With dental implant expertise in Marco Island, Florida, Dr. Jonathan Van Dyke details the signs patients should be aware of that may indicate potential dental implant failure.
• Depending on the stage of failure and its causes, dentists may use several treatments to save failing implants.   

Medical researchers widely recognize dental implants as the most effective and durable prosthetic devices available in healthcare. Dental implant long-term success rates consistently top 90%, with one recent study estimating a 93.1% long-term success rate among the 5.5 million dental implants performed each year. Such numbers suggest that dental implants are an exceptionally viable option for tooth replacement, restoring the functionality and beauty of your smile for the long term.

However, you might wonder what happens if you happen to be among the unlucky few who experience dental implant failure? What are the signs of dental implant failure, and what should one do if such signs emerge?

With extensive dental implant experience, Island Tower Dentistry’s Dr. Jonathan Van Dyke frequently hears such questions from his Marco Island, Florida-area patients. Given his stellar record of success in implant dentistry, Dr. Van Dyke typically responds to these questions by first assuring his patients that dental implant failures are rare and that the functional bite and pleasing smile afforded by their new dentures will likely last for decades. That said, he will then explain the causes and signs of dental implant failure and what to do if they are concerned about their implants. Let’s review Dr. Van Dyke’s thoughts about the signs of dental implant failure, how patients should respond to concerns about their implants, and related details about the durability of dental implants.

What Exactly Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are prosthetic tooth roots that dentists surgically place in the jawbone to serve as the roots of missing teeth. Typically made of a titanium alloy, the implants naturally fuse to the jawbone, providing sufficient stability to support a dental crown that looks, feels, and bites like a natural tooth. 

In addition to traditional dental implants to replace individual missing teeth, Island Tower Dentistry offers its Marco Island patients All-on-4 Dental Implants, which strategically utilize four implants to support an entire arch rather than individual crowns. Considered among the most advanced implant technologies, All-on-4 is ideal for those missing most or all of their teeth and for those unhappy with their dentures.  

What Causes Dental Implants to Fail?

As noted, dental implant failure rates are exceptionally low. While most implant failures develop over time, implants can fail during the first year, typically due to a failure to properly fuse with the jawbone. Improper implant placement, inadequate bone support, and bacterial contamination can cause early implant failure. 

Implant failures that develop over time are more common and usually result from a patient’s failure to properly care for their implants. Common late implant failure causes include:

• Peri-implantitis is an inflammatory disease similar to periodontitis that typically arises from poor dental care. If not controlled, it can lead to gum infection, bone loss, and eventual loosening of the implant.
• Occlusal trauma relating to excessive biting forces, teeth grinding, or a misaligned bite that stresses the implant.
• Smoking or other tobacco usage, which reduces blood flow, increases infection risks, and impairs healing. 
• Diseases like uncontrolled diabetes, osteoporosis, and autoimmune conditions that impact bone metabolism and/or the immune response. 
• Certain medications, such as corticosteroids, affect bone metabolism and/or the immune response.   

What Are the Signs of Dental Implant Failure?

The signs of dental implant failure are often obvious, but anyone suspecting implant failure should see their dentist as soon as possible. Once the implants have fused with the bone, the initial pain or discomfort caused by their insertion should have subsided. If not, this could be a sign that something might be wrong with them. Likewise, if swelling, redness, or bleeding gums near the implant persists long after the procedure. Other signs of implant failure include:

• Looseness or instability of the implant or its crown. 
• Receding gums
• Exposed implant threads
• A persistent bad taste in the mouth
• The presence of pus in the mouth  

How Do Dentists Treat Dental Implant Failure?       

The best way to address potential dental implant failure is to detect it early and initiate treatment at that stage. If you suspect failure, your dentist can diagnose it by assessing the implant’s stability and reviewing X-rays to detect any lack of bone contact with the implant.

Treatment for dental implant failure depends on the stage of failure and its causes. In most cases, early implant failure necessitates implant removal and reimplantation. Dentists can usually treat peri-implantitis—the leading cause of late implant failures—and save the implant, provided it’s detected before it causes too much bone loss. Treatment generally involves professional deep cleaning and scaling, along with antimicrobial therapy. For more advanced peri-implantitis with bone loss, your dentist has several surgical options that may be able to save the implant.   

Patients who suffer an early implant failure or complete late implant failure will require careful removal of the implant to preserve as much of the bone as possible. Once removed, the dentist cleans the site, assesses bone quality, and prescribes antibiotics if signs of infection are present. Patients need between three and six months of recovery before the dentist can consider re-implantation. If bone volume is deficient, the patient will need bone grafting to ensure the stability of the new implant, and the dentist may use an implant with a slightly larger diameter to enhance stability. Re-implantation success rates are high when risk factors such as infection, inflammation, smoking, and poor oral hygiene are well managed.

Let Island Tower Dentistry Resolve Your Dental Implant Failure    

If you’re experiencing signs of dental implant failure in the Marco Island, Florida, area, Dr. Jonathan Van Dyke can assess the health and condition of your implants to determine the best option to save them and preserve your oral health. For expert dental implant work and the best oral health care in Marco Island, contact Island Tower Dentistry at 239-394-1004 to schedule an appointment. 

Additional FAQs: Signs of Dental Implant Failure

Q: How would I notice looseness in my implants?

A: If you see the crown visibly move or feel it wobbling while chewing, that is a sign of potential implant failure that your dentist should assess. You can also check looseness by physically trying to move the crown with a finger.   

Q: Is a loose-feeling implant tooth a sure sign of implant failure?

A: No, as in many cases, this can indicate a mechanical issue between the implant and the crown. For example, the small screw connecting the crown to the implant may loosen over time due to chewing or grinding forces. Crowns affixed to implants with dental cement may become loose due to cement degradation. Sometimes, it’s just the crown itself that is loose due to wear or trauma.

Q: What are the signs of peri-implantitis?

A: Common signs are persistent swelling, redness, and tenderness of the gums, combined with bleeding, a sour taste, and discharges of pus. 

Q: How does a dentist remove a failed implant?

A: To preserve as much bone as possible, dentists typically use reverse torque to unscrew the implant from the bone. In some cases, dentists must use a trephine drill to cut a hole in the bone around the implant. Both procedures are conducted under local anesthesia.