Why Some Implants Fail Repeatedly - Village Dental Clinic

Quick summary

Most dental implants fuse and stay put, but when one fails repeatedly there are usually two reasons behind it: the bone did not bond to the implant, or an infection keeps coming back. Thin or shrunken bone, years without a tooth, osteoporosis, diabetes and immune-suppressing treatment all raise the risk. A bone graft or antibiotics may be needed before another implant is attempted.

Dental implants are the best restorative choice for replacing a tooth that is missing. Whether the tooth has come out due to some kind of facial trauma or an infection or other issue, dental implants are the solution. The real difference in quality between a dental implant and other restorations such as bridges lies in the fact that the dental implant is placed directly into the patient’s jawbone, eventually fusing there through a process known as ossification.

Over time, ossification provides the kind of tooth base that is only seen elsewhere in natural teeth. When a dental implant is successful, it is as secure and as natural looking as a patient’s own original teeth; however, in some cases, dental implants fail. Sometimes they fail repeatedly. What’s causing these dental implant failures? Here are some potential causes.

Sometimes the implant doesn’t fuse with the bone and the bone shrinks away from the implant, leading to implant mobility or even the implant falling out. Patients who have weak bones due to age, osteoporosis, years of being edentulous (toothless) or another medical condition will find dental implants more challenging. If you’ve been having issues with failure to ossify, your dentist might recommend a bone graft to rebuild the jawbone to a healthy level so that dental implants can properly fuse.

In other cases, persistent infection may result in repeated implant failure. Signs of infection are continuous bleeding, swelling at the implant site or acute inflammation of the gum tissue at the implant site. Pus may be evident, or a bubble might appear on the gumline. Some health issues such as diabetes, auto-immune disorders or treatments like cancer therapies can weaken the immune system and leave the implant site vulnerable to infection. Your dentist might prescribe antibiotics or recommend you see an endodontist for a root canal treatment.

If you’re concerned about your dental implant, talk to Kogarah dentist Dr. Anju right away. Find out what steps you need to take to ensure that your dental implants are successful.

If you live in the Kogarah and Haymarket area contact us today

Questions patients ask us about this

Why would a dental implant fail to fuse with the bone?

Fusion depends on there being enough healthy bone for the implant to bond with. Where the bone is thin, has shrunk after years without a tooth, or is weakened by age or osteoporosis, the implant can stay mobile or come away altogether. When that is the cause, a bone graft to rebuild the jaw is often suggested before another implant is placed.

How would I know my implant is infected?

The signs to watch for are bleeding that keeps returning, swelling around the implant, or gum tissue that stays red and inflamed. Pus, or a small bubble appearing on the gumline, is clearer again. Any of these is worth a prompt appointment — ring our Kogarah surgery on (02) 9281 0007 rather than waiting to see whether it settles on its own.

Does having diabetes rule out dental implants?

Not automatically, but it does matter. Diabetes, auto-immune conditions and treatments such as cancer therapy can weaken the immune response and leave an implant site more open to infection. Tell your dentist about every condition and medication before implant treatment is planned, so the risk can be weighed up beforehand rather than discovered afterwards.

Where to read more on this at Village Dental Kogarah

Reading about it only gets you so far. These are the pages that explain how our dentists in Kogarah actually treat it, and what a visit involves.

Village Dental Kogarah is at Shop 5/23-26 Station St, Kogarah NSW 2217. Eight clinicians work across our two Sydney practices, including a dental prosthetist — meet the team. We look after patients from Kogarah, Kogarah Bay, Rockdale, Bexley, Bexley North, Carlton, Allawah, Banksia, Monterey and Sans Souci. If you would like to talk it through, call (02) 9281 0007 or book a time online.

Book an appointment Call (02) 9281 0007 More dental articles

A note on this articleThis is general information written for patients, not dental advice for your own mouth. Teeth, gums and medical histories differ, and so does what suits them, so please have a dentist examine you before deciding on any treatment. If something in your mouth is painful, bleeding or has been knocked out, ring us on (02) 9281 0007 rather than waiting.