Dental Implant Failure & Salvage – Lakeville, MA

95% of dental implants remain healthy and in place 10 years after their placement, and the majority of dental implants last a lifetime. This being said, dental implant failure can still happen, especially if you don’t take care of your smile correctly. Fortunately, should you begin to experience symptoms of a failing dental implant, we may be able to save your painful or loose dental implant with dental implant salvage in Lakeville. Read on to learn more, and don’t hesitate to give us a call if you’re concerned about the well-being of your dental implant.

Why Do Dental Implants Fail?

Since dental implants fuse directly with your jawbone, there are not many things that can cause one to fail. The most common cause of dental implant failure is peri-implantitis. This condition is very similar to periodontitis, which is the leading cause of tooth loss in the United States. It’s often brought on by poor oral hygiene, which allows plaque and bacteria to build up around the dental implant and infect the tissue. As the infection gets stronger, it can destroy the connective tissues that help hold it in place.

Symptoms of a Failed Dental Implant

A dental implant may fail not long after it’s been placed. However, it could also fail many years later as well. The top symptoms to keep an eye out for include:

• Difficulty chewing or biting
• A loose feeling in the implant
• Pain or sensitivity around the implant
• Bright red or puffy gums
• Gum recession near the implant

How Dental Implant Salvage Works

The sooner a failing dental implant is diagnosed and addressed, the more likely successful treatment is! First, we’ll need to see you for an evaluation to determine the severity and source of the underlying issue. In some cases, we may recommend treatments like gum disease therapy or antibiotics as a form of dental implant salvage. However, in serious cases, we may need to refer you to one of our trusted local specialists for more advanced treatment. The dental implant may need to be removed to properly treat the problem, but you may be able to receive a new dental implant once you’ve healed.