Dental Implant Failure & Salvage – Edison, NJ
Salvage Failing Dental Implants and Protect Your Smile
Today’s dental implants boast an impressive 95 percent success rate, but occasionally dental implant failure can still occur. Should you notice signs of dental implant failure, the sooner you act, the better your odds of salvaging your smile will be. Here’s what you should know about dental implant failure, and how Dr. Shah may be able to help get your smile back on track.
Why Choose Edison Prosthodontics for Implant Salvage
- All stages of salvage completed under one roof
- Proud member of The American Academy of Implant Dentistry
- Specialist in guided implant surgery
Why Do Dental Implants Fail?
There are many factors that could cause your dental implants to fail, however generally it occurs due to one of two reasons: peri-implantitis, where bacteria or an infection destroys the connective tissue surrounding the implant and weakens the supporting jawbone structure, or failed osseointegration or injury.
Peri-implantitis is similar to gum disease and is typically caused by poor oral hygiene habits. Failed osseointegration can occur for a variety of reasons including insufficient jawbone density or other problems that could cause the implant to not fuse properly with the jawbone.
Symptoms of a Failed Dental Implant
Dental implant failure can occur at any time, not just immediately following surgery. Early dental implant failure typically occurs during the healing period after placement, while later failure could happen many years or even decades after treatment. Here are a few warning signs to look for that could indicate that your dental implants could be failing:
- The implant feels loose, especially when eating or speaking.
- There is redness, swelling, or pain around the dental implant site.
- An infection has developed at the implant site.
How Dental Implant Salvage Works
If you suspect that your dental implant is failing, please reach out to Dr. Shah as soon as possible. The earlier you identify a problem, the easier and less costly it can be to treat.
Dental implant salvage is designed to save your failing dental implants. In some cases, this may require removing the implant and then surgically reimplanting it, but please be aware that you could require preliminary treatment such as a sinus lift or bone graft first.
The salvage portion of this treatment will be similar to your original dental implant treatment, requiring a healing period for osseointegration to occur. During this time, you will need to follow the aftercare instructions provided by Dr. Shah, including eating a soft diet, not smoking, and taking proper care of your dental implant by brushing and flossing regularly.
