Dental implants are a popular option for replacing missing teeth because they look, function, and feel like real teeth. They are strong and dependable, as well as easy to maintain. As long your practice good oral hygiene, your implants can last for several decades.
If you are thinking about getting an implant, you should find a dentist in Bethesda, MD, who specializes in implant surgery. Dental implant procedures are not always straightforward. If you require additional procedures, such as sinus lift, bone graft, or ridge augmentation, or you suffer from serious bone loss or trauma, you must trust a specialized dental surgeon in this case.
Do Implants Fail
While it is quite rare, a dental failure can happen. Dental implants have a success rate of 95 percent, but failure still occurs. Depending on the circumstances, this failure can result from improper implant care and maintenance. Also, you can expect failure in your implant if the procedure was performed by an inexperienced dentist.
Other Reasons a Dental Implant Fails
Other factors that can cause dental implant failure include the following:
- Low-quality implant material. Some dentists may use cheap materials to make the procedure less costly for patients. But cheap implants can cost more down the road. If they fail and need to be redone, you will have to pay twice for one service. That is why you should get implants only from a board-certified implant surgeon.
- Improper placement. Placing a dental implant in the area of the jaw that does not have enough bone to support it, your implant can loosen and fall out. Typically, this results from your dentist using outdated technology or taking shortcuts during the procedure.
- Damaged nerve. Damaged nerves can occur because of poor implant planning. An experienced implant dentist takes into account each structure, tissue, bone, and nerve that the implant placement will impact. Then, they create an implant plan to place the implant strategically, where it restores your smile without causing any damage.
- Ill-fitting implants. When it comes to dental implants, precision is paramount. Your dentist must meticulously take impressions of your teeth to avoid leaving a gap that leads to a poor fit and implant failure.
- Peri-implantitis. Proper hygiene is a major factor in the success of an implant. After your implant has healed and fused to your jawbone, it requires the same care as your natural teeth. If you do not take care of your mouth, bacteria, and food particles can accumulate around your implant and gum lines, leading to soft tissue inflammation. Peri-implantitis is an infectious disease that affects the implant site and causes the implant to fall out.