Thanks to decades of ongoing research and dedicated clinicians, the rate of dental implant failure is very low, at 2%. Even so, patients and practitioners need to work well together to mitigate the risk of implant failure and rejection. By making use of high quality MIS dental implants, managing your risk and working with an experienced practitioner, you can further reduce your chances of dental implant failure.
Managing The Risk Associated With Dental Implant Failure
All surgical procedures carry some element of risk, but they can be managed effectively to ensure you do not become a statistic. The first part of this process is an accurate assessment.
Your dental practitioner needs to inspect your teeth and soft tissue to establish whether dental implants are the best course of treatment for you. If it is not the best course of treatment for you, there is a chance that the surgery will fail.
And even though they do produce excellent results in general, not everyone is a candidate for implants. For patients who have uncontrolled chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, the dentist may recommend other tooth replacements over a dental implant.
Do you have enough bone to support an implant?
Not everyone has enough bone to support an implant. Your final tooth needs to be able to withstand the same amount of force when biting and chewing as the other teeth in your mouth, and it requires a solid foundation in order to achieve this.
If you do not have enough bone you will need to have a bone graft, or consider an alternative tooth replacement method.
Are you a smoker?
If you smoke, your risk of dental implant failure is statistically higher than if you don’t.
Using High Quality Dental Implants
At Serenity Smiles Dental we make use of MIS dental implants. MIS is world renowned for delivering a high level of accuracy because of their placement template. This means that the placement of your dental implant is carefully plotted digitally to ensure the smallest risk of damage to nerves, blood vessels, and surrounding teeth.
MIS dental implants are made from a patented material that is re-absorbed fully by the body so that ultimately, only bone remains. Failure of osseointegration is a major cause of implant failure.
The MIS system is highly regarded because of its successful track record, and its results are considered predictable and safe. We stand by the quality of our products and are proud to offer a lifetime guarantee on MIS dental implants.
Working with an experienced practitioner
The skill level and experience of your dental practitioner also plays a role in the success of your procedure.
Find out how long your practitioner has been doing dental implants and enquire what his or her personal failure rate is before going ahead with the treatment.
Causes Of Dental Implant Failure
Even though implant failure is rare it can happen. Read why:
Early stage implant rejection
Some people have reactions or allergies that result in their bodies rejecting the implant before the healing period is even over. If your body rejects the implant in the early stages, your dentist can remove it, but you must address the cause of the problem before you can try again.
Late stage implant rejection
This occurs after the healing period is over and is typically caused by a trauma to the site or due to poor oral hygiene.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Dental Implant Failure?
The following are the four main signs and symptoms of Dental Implant Failure:
Prolonged pain or discomfort
The discomfort from your implant procedure should improve by the seventh day following your surgery. If you find that you not healing, or that the pain is getting worse, it could be a sign of implant failure.
New inflammation
Some swelling of your gums is to be expected after the surgery but inflammation that persists past or starts seven to ten days after the surgery, should be reported to your dentist.
Loose implants
When your implant has integrated with your jaw it should feel stable and secure. It should feel natural too. If it moves, feels loose, or feels like something unnatural in your mouth, this could be a sign of a problem.
Discomfort eating and biting
If biting or chewing is still uncomfortable, it could be a symptom of implant failure. Any pain should be reported to your dentist because it will only get worse over time.
What Can You Do To Manage Implant Rejection?
Maintaining excellent oral hygiene is essential when you have lost teeth. even though your dental implant cannot decay, you do still need to maintain good gum health and oral hygiene for the safety of your other teeth.
Always follow your dental practitioner’s care advice, post surgery. Monitor your own recovery and ensure that your mouth does heal in the seven days after surgery. If there are any signs or symptoms of dental implant failure that concern you, do not hesitate to contact your dentist. If there are any complications, they are best managed in the early stages.
To find out more about MIS dental implants and their success rate, please get in touch with us: (02) 9158 6753