Reading time: three minutes.
Dental implants are one of the most reliable solutions for replacing missing teeth, but they are not immune to failure. When an implant fails, it is important to understand both the reasons behind it and the choices you have for treatment.
This blog explains what counts as a failed implant, how to prevent it, and the best options to restore your smile.
Table of Contents
- Understanding a Failed Dental Implant
- How to Prevent Implant Failure
- What Are Your Options If Your Implant Fails?
- Schedule a Consultation With Our Oral Surgeons in Boulder, CO
Understanding a Failed Dental Implant
A dental implant is designed to function like a natural tooth root by fusing firmly to the jawbone. This process, known as osseointegration, is what gives an implant its stability. When osseointegration does not occur or becomes compromised over time, the implant is considered to have failed.
Failure can involve the implant itself or the surrounding gums and bone.
Signs that an implant may be failing include:
- Ongoing pain or tenderness after the normal healing period
- Swelling, redness, or inflammation near the implant
- Movement or looseness of the implant or attached crown
- Gum recession that reveals parts of the implant
- Infection, pus, or a persistent bad taste
- Difficulty biting or chewing
Implant failure can happen shortly after placement if the bone does not integrate properly, or years later due to gradual bone loss, infection around the implant (peri-implant disease), chronic health issues, or inadequate oral hygiene.
What Causes Dental Implants to Fail?
Knowing the reasons implants can fail helps you reduce your risk and protect your long-term oral health. Common causes include:
- Poor bone quality or insufficient bone volume
- Uncontrolled diabetes or autoimmune conditions
- Smoking, which slows healing and affects bone integration
- Inadequate oral hygiene leading to infection
- Improper placement or positioning of the implant
- Excessive bite forces or chronic teeth grinding (bruxism)
- Gradual bone loss around the implant over time
How to Prevent Implant Failure
Implant failure can be avoided with the right care, planning, and follow-up. The following tips can lower your risk of implant failure:
- Choose an experienced oral surgeon with advanced training in implant dentistry and implant placement.
- Complete any needed bone grafting to ensure healthy bone cells before surgery.
- Follow all post-op instructions to protect the healing implant site.
- Avoid smoking for a minimum of 4 weeks after the procedure.
- Keep your gums clean with proper oral hygiene and regular checkups.
- Attend regular follow-up appointments with your dental professional to monitor implant stability.
- Use a night guard if you grind your teeth and protect implant-supported restorations.
What Are Your Options If Your Implant Fails?
Implant failure does not always mean you have to start over. Depending on the cause and severity, there are several ways to address the problem:
- Treat early infections: If inflammation or infection is caught early, targeted cleaning, antibiotics, and improved home care can often save the implant.
- Repair minor bone loss: Small areas of bone loss around an otherwise stable implant may be corrected with regenerative treatments to rebuild support.
- Removal: If the implant cannot be saved, removing it helps protect the surrounding bone and tissue. Once the site has healed, and any necessary bone grafting is complete, you and your surgeon can discuss placing a new implant or exploring other replacement options.
- Immediate reimplantation: In selected cases without infection or extensive damage, a new implant can go in during the same appointment as removal.
- Choose another tooth replacement option: Some patients prefer a dental bridge or partial denture instead of a second implant. These options do not require surgery and can still restore your smile.
Schedule a Consultation With Our Oral Surgeons in Boulder, CO
If you are dealing with a loose or painful implant we can help you explore your next step. Our oral surgeons have decades of experience managing complex implant cases. Read more about our approach to treatment and what makes our practice unique.
To book an appointment at our oral surgery office in Boulder, CO, call (303) 444-2255 or visit us at 1420 28th St, Suite 100, Boulder, CO.
