Dental Implant Failure & Salvage – Lacey, WA

Get Relief and Save Your Tooth Replacement

Woman with dental implants in Lacey speaking with a dentist

Dental implants are generally a very successful treatment when placed by professionals, such as our dentists. However, there’s a reason our team highlights the importance of practicing aftercare steps immediately after your surgery is performed. In the long-term, certain habits can also put your dental implant at risk for failure. On the rare occasion your implant does fail, there may be a chance you can save it if you call our office before your condition worsens.

Why Do Dental Implants Fail?

Diagram of a failed dental implant in Lacey

Dental implant failure typically occurs for two different reasons. This includes peri-implantitis (or an infection of the gum tissue surrounding the implant) or because the bone tissue did not properly fuse with the titanium post of the implant. With that said, other conditions can lead to failure, including certain pre-existing medical conditions or physical injury.

If infection does develop, it’s usually because the patient did not practice proper at-home oral hygiene (i.e. brushing and flossing) to keep plaque production low. This is why it’s so crucial to maintain good oral care habits following the placement of a dental implant.

Symptoms of Failed Dental Implants

Older woman with a failed dental implant in Lacey

Keep in mind that just because you’ve had your dental implants for years (or even decades) doesn’t mean it can’t fail. If early implant failure occurs, it’s often during the healing period before the permanent restoration has been attached. However, later implant failure can happen several years after you’ve received your crown, bridge, or denture.

Some of the most common symptoms of implant failure include the following:

  • Severe dental pain or discomfort
  • Gum tissue receding from the implant
  • Having difficulty chewing or biting down
  • Swollen or inflamed gum tissue around the implant
  • An implant that experiences looseness or other micromovements

How Dental Implant Salvage Works

Implant dentist in Lacey speaking with a patient

If you suspect you may be experiencing symptoms of dental implant failure, call us as soon as you can. If you wait too long to visit us for care, you may not be able to save your tooth replacement. Catching issues in their earliest stages generally makes treatments less expensive overall.

Once you arrive, we’ll perform a detailed exam and confirm if we can save your dental implant through services like deep cleaning and medications like antibiotics if an infection is present. However, if the damage is too severe, we may need to remove the implant entirely to prevent future harm to the rest of your mouth. Once you’ve healed, we can revisit the idea of placing a dental implant. You may need a bone graft if too much material was lost following the failure.