When you can’t laugh without worrying about the gaps in your smile, it can turn what should be an enjoyable gathering with friends and family into a struggle. But with dental implants, you can replace your missing teeth, eat all your favorite foods, and look forward to smiling again.
Dental implants are the gold standard of tooth replacement with good reason; they have a high success rate and can keep your jawbone from deteriorating.
Let’s take a look at what can cause them to fail and how to prevent it.
Dental Implant Failure: Causes and Prevention
Research suggests that dental implants have a 95%-98% success rate for the first five years, but some things can cause them to fail, including the following:
- Peri-implantitis — A bacterial infection that is usually caused by poor hygiene, peri-implantitis can damage the bone and gum tissue around your implant.
- Poor osseointegration — Your implant fuses with your jawbone, giving you a stable foundation for a crown, bridge, or denture. Smoking and inadequate bone quality can lead to this issue.
- Smoking — Using tobacco impairs the blood flow to the implant site; this can keep it from healing properly and increase your risk for infection. We recommend that you don’t use tobacco.
- Bruxism — Grinding your teeth or biting hard objects can put undue pressure on your implant; we can customize a mouthguard for you to wear to avoid this problem.
- Certain medical conditions — If you have uncontrolled diabetes or certain other medical concerns, you may not be a good candidate for dental implants. When you visit us for your consultation, we’ll go over your medical history and discuss your candidacy.
- Poor hygiene — You must care for your implants just like your natural teeth. If you don’t brush and floss every day, bacteria can build up and cause an infection.
Dental Implants in Jonesboro, AR
If you have questions about what dental implants can do for your smile and oral health, our caring team is ready to take your call! At Anthony Bartels, DDS, we strive to help every patient make informed decisions about their oral health.
To schedule a consultation or appointment, please feel free to reach out to us at (870) 932-9911.