Understanding the Causes of Dental Implant Failure
Are you seeking a permanent solution to tooth loss? Dental implants replace lost tooth roots with durable titanium posts. Once healed, implants enjoy a 98 percent success rate. The titanium posts can support an individual crown, bridge, partial denture, or a full denture.
Dental implant failures are rare. Dr. Brian Bell, who is recognized for his clinical skills and affiliated with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, will ensure that your implant surgery in Lake Jackson, TX, is performed with expert care. He works alongside his associate, Dr. Justin Crocker, to handle even the most complex cases. Following your postoperative guidelines and avoiding risk factors that are known causes of dental implant failure can ensure that your implants remain strong and healthy for many decades.
When Am I at the Most Risk of Dental Implant Failure?
While dental implant failure can occur at any point during the lifetime of an implant, our Lake Jackson patients should take extra care to protect and clean their implant-supported restorations during the first three to four months following the procedure. As with any surgery, infections can occur during healing if you do not take antibiotics as prescribed or fail to maintain good oral hygiene habits.
Over the course of the first few months following surgery, your implant will fuse with the surrounding jawbone tissue. Once this healing process, known as osseointegration, has completed, your implant will be stable and less vulnerable to infection or trauma.
Common Causes of Dental Implant Failure
Our doctors will discuss risk factors for dental implant failure in detail. You will be carefully screened at our Lake Jackson dental practice, which uses state-of-the-art imaging equipment. By ensuring that you have healthy jawbone tissue, we can ensure that you have a very low risk of experiencing complications following dental implant placement. Avoiding these risk factors can further reduce your chances of experiencing complications following oral surgery.
Tobacco Use
Tobacco use has a negative effect on healing after nearly any form of surgery, according to the National Institutes of Health. Smoking slows healing and reduces jawbone density: two factors that can place a patient at risk of implant failure. To ensure that you have healthy bone tissue to receive one or more dental implants, our dentists may require tobacco users to refrain from smoking or using smokeless tobacco for a period of time before and after your oral surgery.
Poor Oral Hygiene
Any risk factor that can lead to infection should be avoided. One of the most effective ways to reduce your risk of infection is to maintain good oral hygiene habits and to follow your recovery guidelines carefully. Brushing twice a day, flossing regularly, and using a quality therapeutic mouthwash are key hygiene habits.
Until your gums have fully healed, be careful to avoid aggravating the surgical site. If you do notice unexpected and significant swelling, bleeding, or pain near the treatment area, call our Lake Jackson office and let one of our dental team members know immediately. A potential infection of your dental implant needs to be treated as soon as possible.
Other Causes of Dental Implant Failure
Trauma, heavy alcohol consumption, drug use, and certain medical conditions can also lead to dental implant failure. If you have any questions or concerns about your risk of dental implant failure, your dentist will be glad to discuss dental implant risk factors during a consultation at our Lake Jackson dental practice.
Schedule Your Dental Implant Consultation Today
Don’t let concerns over dental implant complications stand between you and a restored and beautiful smile. Choose a highly trained, compassionate team with your best interests at heart. To schedule your dental implant consultation, please contact our office online or call (979) 297-1201.