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What Causes Failed Dental Implants Due to Bone Loss?
Posted in Dental Implants
Posted on October 17, 2023 by Dr. Gerald Marlin
Dental implants offer a permanent and natural-looking alternative to dentures and have the potential to last a lifetime. Although properly placed and cared for, dental implants typically have a very high success rate, but there is still the potential for failure, especially due to bone loss around the implant. Bone loss can significantly undermine the stability of an implant and is one of the most common reasons for dental implant failure. Understanding the causes of this bone loss is crucial to ensuring long-term success and preventing complications.
What causes failed dental implants due to bone loss? Here, we explore some common reasons leading to bone loss, which can ultimately result in dental implant failure. Factors such as insufficient bone density, infection, and improper placement are all potential causes that can compromise the implant’s stability.
The Importance of Bone Quality in Dental Implant Success
A dental implant consists of a titanium post surgically placed into the jawbone, providing a strong and stable foundation for a dental crown or prosthesis. The implant undergoes osseointegration, a critical process in which the implant fuses with the surrounding bone over time, creating a stable, long-term solution. However, when there is insufficient or poor-quality bone, the implant cannot integrate properly with the jaw, leading to early-stage dental implant failure. Bone loss around the implant is often the underlying issue in such cases, weakening the support structure.
If the patient initially lacks sufficient bone density, a bone graft should have been performed prior to implant placement to provide the necessary foundation for successful osseointegration. Unfortunately, this step is sometimes overlooked or bypassed in an attempt to expedite the treatment process. Skipping this essential step can significantly increase the risk of implant failure due to poor bone support. Additionally, bone grafting is vital to combat early bone resorption, which can further compromise the implant if not properly addressed.
How Does Bone Loss Lead to Implant Failure?
Bone loss called peri-implantitis is the predominant cause of implant failure. Although there is not yet a consensus on the exact point at which a dental implant can be considered failing, typically, it begins with peri-implant mucositis, a condition that involves inflammation and infection of the gum tissues surrounding the implant.
Peri-implant mucositis if untreated, will ultimately lead to bone deterioration around the implant (the peri-implantitis). It is diagnosed when the patient has bone loss up to the first thread from the implant platform, although it really begins when bone is lost around the top of the implant (before the threads). Elite Prosthetic Dentistry considers a dental implant to be failing when there is bone loss around the implant extending to the first thread.
Both Peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis (the actual bone loss) can be predestined if an implant is improperly placed, or an abutment and crown are fabricated with the wrong emergence profile (the proper contour of the abutment matching that of natural tooth at that site where it meets the gingiva. In short, expertise with implant surgery and restoration is key to implant longevity. Bone loss can also occur due to poor oral hygiene, bacterial infection, and excessive mechanical load on the implant. When left untreated, peri-implantitis will, eventually, cause bone deterioration and ultimately result in the failure of the dental implant.
Other Factors Contributing to Bone Loss and Dental Implant Failure
Not all failed dental implants are exclusively due to bone loss. In many cases, implant failure is the result of multiple factors, including, but not limited to :
- Improper implant placement. Implant surgery is a complex procedure that requires great skill and precision. Surgical errors, such as improper implant placement or inadequate initial stability, can lead to implant failure.
- Gum disease. Dental implants are not immune to the effects of gum disease. Poor oral hygiene and untreated gum disease can lead to bacterial infection around the implant site, causing implant failure.
- Smoking. Smoking is known to impair the body’s ability to heal and can increase the risk of implant failure. Smoking can also contribute to infections and compromised bone health, two factors that threaten the integrity of dental implants.
- Health conditions. Certain systemic conditions, such as uncontrolled diabetes, autoimmune disorders, or radiation therapy in the head and neck area, may compromise the success of dental implant treatment.
Overall, the success of dental implants relies on various factors, including proper implant placement, meticulous surgical techniques, and post-operative care.
How to Prevent Bone Loss and Dental Implant Failure
To prevent implant failure resulting from bone loss, it is crucial to maintain good oral hygiene practices, including regular brushing, flossing, and routine dental check-ups.
Check-ups are crucial because they allow your dentist to ensure the health and integrity of your dental implants. It also gives them an opportunity to identify and address any issues, such as gum disease at an early stage, which can reduce the risk of implant failure and the need for restorative procedures.
Of course, taking good care of your health, eating a nutritious diet, and keeping up with your oral health can all help prevent bone loss and implant failure.
At Elite Prosthetic Dentistry, our patients rarely experience implant failure due to our strict treatment regimen and our patients’ adherence to our Hygiene protocol.
Restore Your Failing Implant for Long-Term Success With Elite Prosthetic Dentistry
If you are concerned about bone loss around your implant, do not wait to seek professional care. Dr. Marlin, Prosthodontist at Elite Prosthetic Dentistry, has decades of experience placing and restoring dental implants. He also has a very high success rate with repairing failing implants by detoxifying and bone grafting them back to a point of health (https://www.eliteprostheticdentistry.com/dental-services/dental-implants/repairing-the-failing-implant/ ). Dr. Marlin can diagnose bone loss, if present, and help you restore your implant for a beautiful, natural-looking smile. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
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Through this commitment, Dr. Marlin provides his patients with long-lasting (35 years vs. the national average of 7-10 years) aesthetic restorations so that they have virtually no future problems.
As such, he is a leading specialist in dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, sedation dentistry , and restorative dentistry in the Bethesda–Chevy Chase, Northern Virginia, and Washington DC Metro Area. He has inserted and restored over 3,600 dental implants.
