Dental implants are an attractive and highly successful restorative treatment. However, many individuals don’t know that despite their high success rate, they still fail from time to time. So what causes implant failure and how can it be prevented? Our Ottawa, IL dentist Dr. Conness dives into the topic in order to educate patients on implant rejection.
Early and Late Implant Rejection
When a patient decides to invest in dental implants, there are two very important stages of the process in which rejection may occur. The first is during the process of osseointegration and the second involves the aftercare of the implants.
Although dental implants are not susceptible to decay and don’t require special treatment, they still need to be cared for as you would your normal teeth. It’s during these two periods, before and after that implant failure can occur. Known as early and late implant rejection, early rejection occurs in the beginning stages of the process while late implant rejection can occur after the dental implants have been successfully placed.
Early implant rejection may occur if the patient’s jaw has an allergic reaction to the implant material. Additionally, if the jaw rejects the titanium post meant as the foundation, it will subsequently stop the process of osseointegration and result in a failed dental implant.
In contrast to an early rejection, a late implant rejection can occur after the implants have fused to the jaw and have been successfully placed. Reasons for a late implant failure include:
- Smoking
- Poor oral hygiene
- Misaligned implants
- Post-op trauma
Peri-Implantitis
Peri-implantitis is a type of gum disease that is caused by poor hygiene habits. Although it’s treatable, if peri-implantitis is neglected and not treated in time it can impact the success of existing dental implants, causing them to fail and resulting in a need for implant replacement.
Peri-implantitis is an infection that can occur either before or after the dental implant procedure. The infection targets the gums and forms bacteria around the existing implants. If left untreated for a long period of time, it may result in bone loss.
Visit John M. Conness Today!
If you have additional questions about how to care for your new dental implants or have concerns about the current state of your mouth, contact Dr. Conness in Ottawa, IL. Our dedicated dentist will be more than happy to assist you and help you maintain a healthy smile for years to come.