Dental Implants are the most successful and healthy option to replace teeth. They do not require the mutilation of adjacent teeth and are permanent and can be treated just like normal teeth. Implants are not fail safe, however. They require careful treatment planning and expert placement to ensure their success.
Sometimes, after an implant is placed the bone around it does not fuse to implant surface like it should, more technically, osseointegrate, and the implant will come out. This usually occurs within the first few weeks to months of placement. If this happens to occur, many times the site can heal and the implant can be reattempted in a few months. Most implants that are replaced are successful and do not require future treatment.
Sometimes, after the implant has been in function with a crown placed, bone around the implant can be lost due to infection. Infections around implants can be caused by many things but primarily are caused by bacteria that fester between the gums and the implant. Bone loss around an implant is referred to as, peri-implantitis. Peri-implantitis can lead to an ailing or a failing implant. An ailing implant is one where there is some bone loss, but no pain or mobility of the implant. In this case, disinfection and bone grafting around the implant may be needed to extend the life and health of the implant and keep it from failing. A failing implant is one that is characterized by more than 50% bone loss with pain and mobility present. A failing implant usually requires the removal of the implant and in most cases reimplantation after a certain healing period.
Studies and research of dental implants going out 30 plus years give implants a success of 95%. This figure is coming under more scrutiny, as more and more dentists are placing implants without the right training and experience. It is important as both a patient and a consumer that you question who the best practitioner to place your implant would be. We are Periodontists who are Diplomates of the American Board of Periodontology and Dental Implant Surgery. We are the only Board Certified Periodontal group in Kansas City who have been placing thousands of implants for decades. We were required to have three years of training in the placement and the science of dental implant placement. We are the most knowledgeable about success and treatment of ailing and failing implants. We would love to consult with you about your options and give you the best functioning implants possible.
