While dental implants have a high success rate when best practices are followed, unfortunately, when they’re not, dental implant failure is a common consequence. As a Naperville implant dentist, Dr. Anthony LaVacca treats patients who have undergone the procedure at other offices only to experience implant failure. We’re not criticizing any particular dentists. The truth is, the outcome of the treatment isn’t 100% predictable. Occasionally, even when the procedure is done correctly and the patient complies with all of the doctor’s instructions, implant failure can still occur. This is why it’s critical to adhere to implant placement standards without compromise. Otherwise, the chances of experiencing difficulty dramatically increase.
Types of Dental Implant Failure
Infection
If an implant doesn’t fit correctly or improper techniques are used, the surrounding tissue can become irritated or inflamed, resulting in persistent infection.
Loose Implants
There are several causes of loose implants, including substandard fixtures, prematurely loading the implants (i.e., attaching replacement teeth before the jawbone and implants can support them) or placing them in bone that is not dense enough.
Nerve Impairment
Implants can mistakenly be positioned in places where they impair the nerves in the jaw. Nerve impairment can lead to persistent pain, numbness and tingling.
Puncturing Other Body Cavities
Improperly placing implants can result in the implant puncturing the sinuses, nose or the mandibular lingual space.
What Causes Dental Implant Failure?
Every so often, even when the dentist and patient both put forth their best effort, implant failure can still occur. However, it’s most often due to the factors below, all of which can contribute to implant mistakes or failure.
Diagnostic Shortcuts
Proper placement of implants requires a three-dimensional CT scan. The scan shows the position of the blood vessels and nerves in the bone, the shape of your nasal sinus and other structures. It also reveals whether or not you have enough quality bone available to support the implants. At our practice, we use i-CAT™ technology for our imaging, so you’ll be exposed to only three percent of the radiation you’d receive from a medical scan. A two-dimensional x-ray isn’t sufficient to ensure that implants are properly placed.
Inadequate Medical History
There are medical conditions that affect the success of dental implants. Therefore, a thorough review of your medical history is required before the procedure is performed.
Substandard Fixtures
Only six of the over 200 hundred companies that manufacture dental implant fixtures have published juried research and test results illustrating the quality of the fixtures. A substandard fixture can be a fraction of the cost of a high-quality fixture that’s been precision engineered and fully tested. Because they’re not designed at the same level and haven’t been tested, cheap fixtures can lead to infection or cause the implants to loosen.
Incorrect Placement
A lack of communication between the surgeon and the dentist or inadequate diagnostic information can cause implants to be placed incorrectly.
Preventing and Correcting Dental Implant Failure
Preventing implant failure boils down to complying with your doctor’s instructions and having an experienced doctor, who follows all implant placement standards, perform the procedure. Dr. LaVacca is a board-certified prosthodontist, meaning he’s a dentist who specializes in the replacement and esthetic restoration of teeth. He completes the entire dental implant procedure himself, from surgically implanting the root form to placing the porcelain crown. This eliminates the need to rely on communication between a general dentist and a surgeon or coordinate between practices. At Naperville Dental Specialists, we take three-dimensional CT scans with the most cutting-edge imaging technology available and we use high-quality implant fixtures. Additionally, Dr. LaVacca always conducts a thorough examination and carefully reviews a patient’s medical history.
At Naperville Dental Specialists, you can be certain that we’ll take precise, in-depth diagnostic records and that Dr. LaVacca will properly place your implants. If you’ve receive implants that have failed elsewhere, he can also expertly remove and replace them. To learn more, book a complimentary consultation, which includes an exam and a panoramic x-ray, with our Naperville implant dentist. Request an appointment online or call our office at (630) 848-2010.
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