Dental implants have completed millions of compromised smiles with beautifully lifelike restorations that feel and work just like real teeth. While these devices are more than 95% successful even after ten years have passed since they were placed, certain factors can lead to their early failure. Here’s a brief guide to what caused dental implants to fail as well as a few tips for keeping your artificial teeth healthy and strong for decades.
What Makes Dental Implants So Successful?
While the impressive success rate of dental implants is in no small part due to the expertise of the dentists who place them, they key factor that allows them to exert maximum chewing power and last for decades is the way in which they are placed. For most dental implants, a titanium post serves as the base of the restoration, and it will be carefully inserted into the jawbone through a minor surgical procedure. Titanium has the remarkable ability to fuse with living bone tissue through a natural process called osseointegration.
In the months following the placement of a dental implant, the titanium post will gradually integrate with the surrounding jawbone structure, creating the sturdy foundation that gives the device the leverage it needs to restore almost all the patient’s chewing power. The restoration fusing with the bone tissue also allows it to function just like a real tooth and potentially last for life. With excellent care, your implant may serve you for decades or even a lifetime.
What Causes Dental Implants to Fail?
Dental implants generally fail for two reasons, those being:
- Peri-implantitis: This condition involves the bone and gum tissue supporting a dental implant being eroded by infection or bad oral habits like smoking or excessive consumption of alcohol or acidic foods and beverages.
- Failed osseointegration: If the titanium post does not adequately fuse with the jawbone, the implant is more likely to fail early.
How Can I Keep My Implants in Great Shape?
Luckily, dental implants only require the same oral hygiene regimen as natural teeth to stay healthy and strong. To keep your restorations in excellent condition, stick to the following guidelines:
- Brush and floss every day.
- Rinse with antibacterial mouthwash as needed.
- See your dentist for regular exams and cleanings.
- Limit your consumption of sugar, acid, and alcohol.
- Abstain from bad oral habits like teeth grinding, smoking, and using your smile to open packages.
Don’t let your gorgeous dental implants be compromised by factors that can be prevented. Adhering to your dentist’s care and maintenance instructions will allow you to keep your restorations in great shape for the longest possible time.
About the Author
Dr. Nelson Y. Howard earned his dental degree at the UCLA School of Dentistry in 1986 before completing a one-year General Practice Residency at the V.A. Medical Center in West Los Angeles in 1987. He is proud to be a member of the American Society for Dental Aesthetics and the West Coast Society for Cosmetic Dentistry. His offices in San Marcos and San Diego offer cosmetic, restorative, preventive, and emergency dentistry as well as implant services. To learn more about proper dental implant care, contact his practice online.