You just got dental implants in Sparks a few months ago, and so far, things have been great. That is, until recently. Your implant feels loose, and you experience light bleeding whenever you brush and floss in the area. Does this mean your implant has failed? Let’s take a closer look.
What Factors Can Cause Dental Implants to Fail?
The success of your dental implant depends on a process called osseointegration, the process by which your jawbone fuses with your implant. If your implant doesn’t properly become one with your implant, your body might reject it, causing your implant to become loose and your placement surgery to be all for nothing.
Some factors that might cause implant failure include systemic issues like:
- Poorly managed diabetes
- Gum disease
- Poor oral hygiene in general
- Smoking or chewing tobacco
- Jawbone loss from missing teeth
What Should You Do If Your Implant Fails?
First things first, it helps to know what to watch out for. Symptoms of implant failure can include pain, mobility of the implant post, visible bone loss, or bleeding or pus in the area.
If you suspect you have a failed dental implant in Sparks, contact your dentist right away. They can determine the exact cause of the implant failure and then come up with the best course of action for treatment. Most causes of implant failure can be treated by removing the implant, cleaning the area or performing a bone graft, then replacing the implant. Although this treatment may add a few months of recovery time until you have your tooth back, the wait will ultimately be worth it to have a tooth that isn’t infected or damaged in some way.
How Can You Prevent Implant Failure?
Before you get your implants, your dentist in Sparks should be able to tell you if you need a bone graft or gum disease treatment first. That should lessen the chance that osseointegration doesn’t work, as well as your risk of developing an infection in your gums that could compromise the success of your implants.
The three best ways to prevent implant failure after you receive your implant is to brush, floss, and schedule regular dental checkups and cleanings to make sure your implant is still in tip-top shape.
About the Author
Dr. Marc Thomas earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in 1993 from the University of the Pacific. Because he has taken plenty of post-graduate courses in the area of dental implants, he is able to both place and restore your new teeth right in his office. His professional memberships include the Academy of General Dentistry, the Northern Nevada Dental Society, the American Dental Association, and the Seattle Study Club. If you think your dental implant has failed, or if you’re interested in getting implants to replace your missing teeth, contact Dr. Thomas’ practice at (775) 626-3535.