Dental Implant Failure & Salvage – Merrimack, NH
Saving Your Restored Smile
In most cases, dental implants are able to endure for decades. In fact, they often last for a patient’s entire lifetime. In rare cases, though, dental implant failure occurs. If you ever find yourself dealing with a failed dental implant in Merrimack, call our team right away. We will assess the problem, design a treatment plan, and aim to get your oral health back on track as soon as possible.
Why Do Dental Implants Fail?
One of the most common causes of dental implant failure is an infection known as peri-implantitis. It occurs when bacteria attack and destroy the tissue around an implant, compromising its base of support. Missteps in oral hygiene often contribute to peri-implantitis, but other factors may contribute to it as well.
Other possible causes of implant failure include:
- Failed osseointegration (the implant never fully bonds with the bone around it)
- Physical trauma
- Various medical conditions, such as cancer or other diseases that may interfere with the body’s ability to support the implants
Symptoms of Failed Dental Implants
There are two main categories of dental implant failure. Early dental implant failure occurs shortly after the implants are placed in the jawbone. Late dental implant failure can happen anytime after osseointegration is complete. It may even occur years or decades after the initial implant placement surgery.
Some common symptoms of dental implant failure include:
- Unusual pain. Some discomfort is normal after implant placement surgery, but any significant pain after you adjust to your implants is a red flag.
- Swelling, redness, and pus. These are signs of an infection and should prompt you to seek immediate professional care.
- An implant feels loose. In some cases, a loose-feeling implant means that you need a new restoration. In other cases, the issue is related to the implant itself.
- Difficulty chewing. After you adjust to using your implants, it should be easy for you to eat a wide variety of foods. Any difficult or discomfort when you are eating may indicate a problem.
How Dental Implant Salvage Works
If you believe there is a problem with your dental implants in Merrimack, contact us right away. We will examine your mouth, use imaging equipment to get a look beneath your gumline, and strive to pinpoint the cause of the problem. Depending on how severe the issue is, we might be able to save your implants, perhaps via antibiotic therapy and a thorough cleaning of your mouth.
There is also the possibility that it will be necessary to remove your implants altogether. Once any infection is gone, and perhaps after you have had a bone graft, it might be possible to insert new dental implants so you can once again enjoy the benefits of a fully restored smile. This type of implant salvage may take at least a few months. We will provide you with coaching to minimize the risk that you will encounter problems with your implants again in the future.
