When you first decided to replace your missing tooth with a dental implant, you were over the moon. You could finally chew all your favorite foods again. After a few months, however, your implant started to feel strangely sensitive. This discomfort eventually turned into outright pain. This is one of the classic signs of dental implant failure. Keep reading to learn about the other symptoms, and how you can ensure your dental implant lasts a lifetime.
The Parts of an Implant
Most dental implants have three sections: the implant post itself that is inserted into the jawbone, the abutment (a metal connector piece), and the restoration (crown, bridge, or denture). If just one of these parts becomes loose or broken, it can compromise your entire implant.
Implants are made of titanium, a highly biocompatible metal. Once the implant has been placed in your jaw, a remarkable process called osseointegration begins. During this process, the implant post stimulates your jawbone to grow around it until the two are essentially one and the same. However, if osseointegration does not occur as it should, problems can ensue.
How to Recognize a Failed Implant
The main sign that osseointegration has not happened properly is mobility. If your implant has failed, you might notice it shifting or wiggling when you talk or chew. Other signs of dental implant failure include pain and swelling as a result of an infection within the jawbone or surrounding gum tissue. A form of gum disease called peri-implantitis is fairly common among people with dental implants who do not properly adhere to an oral hygiene regimen.
How to Avoid Dental Implant Failure
More often than not, you can prevent your implants from failing by taking good care of your oral health. Brush your implant restoration with a soft-bristled toothbrush twice a day. Floss around your restoration at least once a day, making sure that food particles don’t get stuck there and cause an infection. Avoid grinding your teeth if you can, or ask your dentist about a custom mouthguard to prevent damage to your implants. Lastly, be sure to see your dentist twice a year for a regular checkup and cleaning. At these appointments, your implants will be evaluated for signs of failure.
Dental implant failure can be serious and costly to treat. Once you’ve received your new teeth, follow a strict dental hygiene regimen in order to prolong their lifespan as long as possible.
About the Author
Dr. Donald Bond obtained his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. Together with Dr. Timothy Ganfield, he partners with the best oral surgeons in the Newark area to place dental implants, and he can restore them himself. If you think your implant may have failed, or if you’re eager to get started on your implant journey, contact their practice, White Clay Dental, at (302) 731-4225.