Dental Implant Failure & Salvage – Barton City, MI

Not many things can cause dental implants to fail. The most common reason is peri-implantitis, which is an infection in the gums around the dental implant. This is frequently brought about by poor oral hygiene and bad dental habits that allow bacteria to accumulate in the mouth. As the infection grows, the bacteria can begin to destroy the supportive tissues that help keep the dental implant in place.

Other reasons why a dental implant may fail are rarer. It could be the result of failed osseointegration, where your jawbone and the dental implant didn’t fuse properly. A serious injury to the face, such as that from a bad car accident, could potentially knock a dental implant loose. Additionally, certain medical conditions like osteoporosis can contribute to dental implant failure.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, your dental implant may be failing:

• Pain, soreness, or sensitivity around the dental implant
• A loose or wobbly feeling in the dental implant
• Bleeding or swelling around the dental implant

A failing dental implant is often considered an emergency that won’t resolve itself, so we’ll do everything we can to see you as quickly as possible. Even if you are unsure if your dental implant is failing, we encourage you to call us and schedule an appointment anyway so we can take a closer look. In some cases, dental implant salvage may include antibiotic therapy, a deep cleaning, or splinting the dental implant to the surrounding teeth. However, in severe cases, we may need to remove your dental implant entirely to effectively treat the underlying issue.