By Dr. Keerthi Sudireddy
Dental implants succeed over 95 percent of the time, but knowing the warning signs of failure helps you act early, when problems are most fixable.
Signs of a failing implant include persistent pain, swelling or redness around it, looseness, gum recession exposing the implant, or difficulty chewing. Common causes are infection (peri-implantitis), smoking, poor hygiene, grinding, or insufficient bone. Caught early, many issues are treatable; if an implant fails, it can usually be removed and replaced after healing.
Warning signs
- Ongoing pain or discomfort after healing should be complete.
- Swelling, redness or pus around the implant.
- The implant or crown feeling loose.
- Gum receding and exposing the implant.
Why implants fail
- Peri-implantitis - infection of the tissue around the implant.
- Smoking and poor oral hygiene.
- Untreated grinding overloading the implant.
- Not enough healthy bone, or uncontrolled diabetes.
What can be done
Early problems are often treatable with cleaning and care. If an implant fails, it can usually be removed and, after healing or grafting, replaced. Act fast on any warning sign.
Concerned about an implant? Get it checked at The Tooth Studio.
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