Dental implants are designed to be a permanent solution for missing teeth. With an estimated 97% success rate over ten years, the risks of implant failure are low, but failing to care for your dental implants increases the risk of failure exponentially. In addition to regular brushing and flossing and routine dental visits, there are some other common recommendations for avoiding the need to fix dental implants. Following these recommendations could mean extending the life of your dental implants indefinitely, letting them help you eat, speak, and smile comfortably and confidently for a lifetime. It’s helpful to understand the mechanics of dental implants as you learn about fixing them.
Dental implant restorations are made of two main components: a dental implant post and an implant-supported restoration. The implant post is surgically placed into the jawbone, where it fuses together with the bone over the course of several months. Once the bone has fully healed, the implant post is fitted with an attachment abutment that supports a dental crown, which emerges from the gums as naturally as a real tooth would. Implants can also be used to support other dental prosthetics; in fact, in some cases, as few as four implants can be used to support an entire row of teeth. The abutments and dental prosthetics undergo wear and tear, just like the natural teeth do, and, if a crown loosens or an abutment breaks, it’s nearly always the case that the abutment can be replaced and the crown reattached. Similarly, if the prosthetic itself cracks or sustains damage, it can be remade and reattached without affecting the implant itself.
Sometimes, however, the implant itself needs to be fixed. This involves more than merely repairing or replacing a prosthetic or abutment and could lead to implant failure if ignored. The primary contributing factors for implant failure include:
- Peri-implantitis
- Peri-implantitis is characterized by inflammation in the gum tissue around the dental implant and is usually caused by poor oral hygiene. Like the inflammation that characterizes gum disease, this situation gets worse if it isn’t addressed; the more inflamed the gums are, the more destructive bacteria they allow to colonize below the gums and attack the connective tissue and bone. Just as gum disease eventually leads to tooth loss in the same fashion, untreated peri-implantitis will lead to implant failure.
- Smoking or otherwise using tobacco
- Many people don’t realize that commercial tobacco products and cigarettes are loaded with chemicals, and it makes sense that sucking hot, chemical air directly into your mouth is really irritating to the oral tissues. Using tobacco after a dental procedure is especially ill-advised, as it interferes with healing and could affect the long-term success of the implant.
- Poor oral hygiene
- One of the many benefits of dental implants is that they’re easily cared for, brushed, and flossed where they live just like natural teeth. While oral hygiene is majorly important whether implants are present or not, it’s particularly important when you consider the amount of time, money, and emotional labor expended for dental implants. Repairing a failed dental implant requires even more of an investment than the initial placement, as the bone loss that comes with periodontal disease and leads to implant failure has to be repaired before an implant can be placed again. This is a situation anyone should want to avoid, and the best way to avoid it is with a solid home oral hygiene routine and periodic checkups and cleanings with your dentist.
Healing of the bone around the implant post, a process called osseointegration, is integral to the long-term success of the implant, and your dentist will periodically evaluate healing progress to ensure that the implant and bone have totally healed before the crown or other prosthetic is placed. Failed osseointegration or incorrect implant placement could also lead to implant failure, though both of these things are avoided by working with a qualified, expert dental implant team. Some medical conditions or medications can increase the risks of implant failure, though this can usually be managed in conjunction with the primary care provider. Closely following aftercare guidelines following implant placement will set you up for solid healing, and observing healthy behaviors going forward can help ensure that you won’t have to fix your dental implants.
Related Article: Why Would a Dentist Need to Fix Dental Implants?