Dental Implant Failure & Salvage – New Haven, CT

Why Do Dental Implants Fail?

The most common cause of dental implant failure is an infection called peri-implantitis. It occurs when bacteria attack the tissue around an implant. Eventually, the infection can cause so much damage that the mouth is no longer able to support dental implants in New Haven. Missteps in oral hygiene are often the main contributor to peri-implantitis, but other factors can also lead to it.

Other possible causes of dental implant failure include:

• Physical trauma
• Medical conditions that interfere with the body’s ability to support dental implants
• Failure of an implant to bond with the surrounding bone

Symptoms of Failed Dental Implants

Dental implant failure can be divided into two categories. Early failure occurs shortly after the initial placement surgery. Late failure can happen anytime after the initial healing period, even years or decades later.

Whether your dental implants are new or you have been enjoying them for a long time, you should remain on the lookout for these symptoms:

• Unusual pain. Some discomfort is normal following the initial implant surgery. However, severe pain and pain that occurs after you have had your implants for a while are both red flags.
• Signs of infection. Redness and swelling in the gums, as well as pus and gum recession, are all signs of a possible infection.
• Difficulty chewing. Once your restorations are placed on your implants, it should be easy for you to chew virtually any food. Difficulties in this area merit a visit to the dentist.
• An implant feels loose. This might indicate that the bone around an implant is damaged.

How Dental Implant Salvage Works

Seek treatment as soon as you suspect that something is not quite right with your dental implants. Delaying care only gives the problem an opportunity to get worse. The worse it becomes, the more likely it is that you will require extensive or complex treatment. In the meantime, you may face continuous discomfort or even pain.

When you come in for your appointment, we will examine your mouth and strive to determine the cause of the problem. From there, we will recommend a treatment. In some cases, something as simple as a prescription mouthwash, antibiotics, or a new restoration is all that is necessary. However, if the damage to your oral tissues is severe, we might have to remove a dental implant altogether. Later, after a healing period and some restorative treatments (perhaps including a bone graft), we might be able to insert a new implant.