Avoid These Causes of Dental Implant Failure
Patients who are missing a tooth or multiple teeth can benefit from getting dental implants. These surgically placed artificial tooth roots can support individual crowns, a bridge, and even a full set of dentures. Dr. Scott Parr and Dr. Tara Frey have helped so many patients in the Virginia Beach, VA thanks to the use of dental implants.
While implant dentistry is often successful, there is a risk of treatment failure. Thankfully there are ways to prevent this from happening. The team at the Smile Center would like to go over some common causes of dental implant failure and what patients can do to avoid these problems.
Inexperienced Dentists or Oral Surgeons
If your dentist or oral surgeon does not have sufficient experience with dental implants, this can increase the risk of treatment failure. This goes for risk of failure immediately after the oral surgery is performed as well as long-term results of dental implant treatment.
There are many ways to avoid inexperienced or unqualified dental health professionals. If you know family members, friends, or co-workers who have dental implants, ask them for recommendations. If resources in your network are not available, you can always look online. A simple Google search like “dental implants dentist Virginia Beach” can yield a number of promising leads. You can check online reviews and patient testimonials to find qualified dentists and oral surgeons in the area.
Poor Jawbone Density
After losing a tooth or multiple teeth, many people experience a loss of jawbone density. When a tooth is in place, its root structure is anchored into the jawbone. When a tooth is missing, the jawbone naturally recedes since it is not required to support a root structure. Without sufficient jawbone density, a dental implant will not be stable and osseointegration may not occur, increasing the risk of treatment failure.
The best way to prevent this problem is to undergo bone grafting. By surgically adding hard tissue to the jawbone, the necessary density can be restored, providing a solid foundation to support dental implants.
Gum Recession and Periodontal Disease
Your bone density isn’t the only important structure of the mouth when it comes to dental implants. The health of your gums is also extremely important. Following tooth loss, gum recession is a common issue since there is no tooth or root structure for the gumline to grow around. If you develop gum disease, this can increase your risk of infection following oral surgery.
To prevent periodontal health problems, we advise patients to quit smoking before they get dental implants. This reduces the risk of gum recession and periodontal disease. If a patient has suffered from gum recession due to tooth loss, they can undergo gum grafting surgery. This builds up healthy gum tissue where it may be lacking,
Slow Recovery Time
Slow healing times after any surgical procedure increase your risk for infection and failed treatment. This means that your implants may fail in those crucial first few weeks after the oral surgery.
Our practice offers pre-op and post-op instructions to prepare a patient for the healing process. By following these pre-op and post-op instructions, healing times can be sped up and the likelihood of implant failure can be greatly reduced.
Peri-Implantitis
Peri-implantitis refers to a specific kind of infection that affects people with dental implants. During peri-implantitis, the gum tissue around the dental implant becomes infected. This infection can spread down to the jawbone, making failure an issue even years after a successful dental implant surgery.
The best way to prevent peri-implantitis is to practice good oral hygiene and to avoid the use of tobacco products. It’s also a good idea to visit our Virginia Beach dental practice for regular dental checkups. This helps fight tooth decay, gum disease, and other common dental health issues.
Learn More About Implant Dentistry
If you would like to learn more about dental implants and whether to not they are an ideal option for you and your needs, be sure to contact our skilled team of cosmetic and restorative dentists. The team at The Smile Center can be reached by phone at (757) 473-8482.
