Dental Implant Failure & Salvage – San Antonio, TX

Saving Your Newly Rebuilt Smile

woman with hurting tooth

Unlike traditional solutions like dental bridges and dentures, dental implants are incredibly successful even after a decade. They’re an excellent long-term method of tooth replacement! However, there are rare cases where dental implants can fail. Although there are a few reasons why that can happen, there’s no need to worry. Our practice is proud to offer implant failure and salvage treatment to fix your failed dental implant and bring your smile back to its full potential! To learn more, continue reading or give our office a call today to schedule an appointment.

Why Do Dental Implants Fail?

closeup of dental implant in patient’s mouth

Peri-implantitis is the most common cause of dental implant failure. It’s an infection that destroys the connective tissue around the implant, weakening the jawbone structure that supports it. Typically, it results from poor oral hygiene or gum disease.

Here are a few other factors that can lead to dental implant failure:

  • Injury
  • Tobacco use
  • Failed osseointegration
  • Allergic reactions
  • Sinus problems
  • Preexisting medical conditions

Symptoms of a Failed Dental Implant

patient visiting dentist for tooth pain

It’s worth noting that dental implant failure can occur at any time. Early failure usually occurs during the 3-to-6-month healing period following your surgery. However, later implant failure can develop years or even decades after your initial treatment. With routine dental checkups, we can spot any issues early on and address them before they lead to severe complications.

Make sure you keep an eye out for the following warning signs of a failed dental implant:

  • Extreme pain or discomfort
  • Receding gums around the implant
  • Loose or shifting implant
  • Difficulty chewing on or around the affected area
  • Swollen gums
  • Teeth grinding
  • Sudden allergic reaction
  • Implant micro-movements

How Dental Implant Salvage Works

patient vistiing dentist

Do you think you have a problem with your dental implants? Don’t wait – call our office right away for assistance! Oral health conditions will only worsen and get more expensive if left untreated. You need to visit us as soon as possible if you suspect dental implant failure. The earlier we catch the problem, the better chance we have of saving your smile.

Our team will conduct a detailed examination and learn more about your symptoms to determine the best course of action. In some cases, implants can be saved with a deep cleaning, antibiotics, or other conservative ways of controlling infection. If the damage is too extensive, we may recommend completely removing the implant. After we restore your oral health, we may be able to place a new dental implant.