Dental Implant Failure & Salvage – Marietta, OH

If you’ve opted for dental implants to rebuild missing teeth, then you can typically expect a durable, lifelike, and long-lasting solution for your brand-new smile. That said, you might wonder what it means if you begin to feel your titanium post hurting or becoming loose. Although this tooth-replacement option usually boasts a success rate of 95% and up, it is still possible for them to fail. The good news is that our team can provide dental implant salvage treatment in Marietta to help preserve your new permanent root. Keep reading to learn more or reach out to us today to schedule an appointment.

Why Do Dental Implants Fail?

One of the most common reasons dental implants can fail is due to peri-implantitis. This is an inflammatory infection in the gums surrounding the metal posts that can begin to damage and destroy the connective tissue holding your new roots (and other remaining teeth) in place. Though this condition can be devastating to your implants, it’s fairly easy to avoid peri-implantitis.

To maintain healthy and infection-free gums, you’ll simply want to brush your teeth every day, floss daily or after every meal, and rinse your mouth with antiseptic mouthwash. You’ll also want to keep a nutritious diet to promote good oral and overall health and stay away from tobacco products. Be sure to visit your dentist biannually to further minimize your risk of oral health complications that can cause your implants to fail.

Symptoms of Failed Dental Implants

You’ll want to know what symptoms to watch out for, as your dental implants can potentially fail after many years or within a few weeks of your placement treatment. Here are the most common indications of a failing implant:

• Swelling or bright red gums that easily bleed
• Discomfort around your implant site, particularly when chewing
• Difficult biting down or chewing food
• A loose or wobbly metal post
• Receding gums around the dental implant

How Dental Implant Salvage Works

Should your titanium post begin to fail, our team can essentially try to restabilize it via dental implant salvage. Though this procedure will depend on your specific situation, we’ll usually start by assessing your oral health and discussing your symptoms. We’ll then explain your treatment options for addressing the problem, which may include a deep cleaning, antibiotics, or other treatments for infections. If the implant or connective tissues are damaged, we might recommend extracting the implant to first treat the underlying issue. After you’re back to good oral health, via services like bone graft and periodontal therapy, you may be eligible to get a new dental implant.