Signs of a Failed Dental Implant

Dental implants can change your life in many ways, including better oral health, a gorgeous smile, and the chance to eat all the foods you love. With today’s innovative surgical techniques, implant surgery has a success rate of well over 95 percent. Although implant failure is rare, it can happen. Dental implant failure can happen at any time. For some patients, implant failure occurs shortly after surgery, while for others, it occurs years down the road. Knowing the signs of a failed dental implant is crucial if you’ve had dental implant surgery.

Extreme Pain

We don’t mean the mild to moderate pain you experience in the first few days following surgery. Feeling discomfort in the first week after dental implants are placed is normal. This type of pain can be controlled with medication and ice packs. Pain that lasts longer and comes in unrelenting, throbbing waves usually indicates infection and a failed dental implant. Contact our office immediately for an evaluation of your implants if you are still experiencing pain after the first week and it is increasing.

Difficulty Eating or Chewing

Successful implants should make eating and chewing feel like using your natural teeth. If you develop a problem with eating or chewing, it may be a sign of a failed implant. Patients sometimes say biting down feels like having a toothache from a cavity. When eating or chewing becomes uncomfortable, something is wrong, and we need to check your implants.

Receding Gums

If your crowns look unusually long or you can see any abutment or implant, the gums are receding around your implant. The two most common causes of recession are inadequate jawbone and gum support for the implant or a poorly placed implant. In either case, receding gums usually lead to inflammation and pain.

Swollen Gums

Minor swelling for the first few days after implant surgery is normal. Puffy, tender gums that last longer than a week or that develop later may indicate infection, particularly if the swelling and redness worsen. Any infection connected to failed dental implants should be treated as quickly as possible to prevent it from spreading to the rest of the mouth or the bloodstream.

Allergic Reaction

In very rare situations, your body may reject a titanium implant due to a metal allergy. You may feel pain, tingling, burning, itching, swelling, or hives. In severe cases, you may develop chills or a fever. Patients can develop an allergy and reject an implant years after placement. If you suspect a metal allergy is contributing to a failed dental implant, it is crucial to treat the allergy and remove the implant.

Alaska Oral Surgery Group Can Help

Whenever you have an implant issue, contacting our office at Alaska Oral Surgery Group Office Phone Number 907-278-5678 should be your first step. We are experienced in treating and restoring failed dental implants. In many cases, we can treat the infection, correct the problem, and restore the implant so that you can continue to enjoy a complete set of functional, attractive teeth that last a lifetime.