Dental implants are an excellent solution for a patient’s missing teeth. These are metal frames placed into the jawbone to support a patient’s dentures, bridges, or crowns. However, just like everything in life, the dental procedure is still prone to failure. However, how do we prevent it from happening?
Apart from proper maintenance, one of the best ways to ensure its durability is to understand the reasons behind its deterioration. By doing so, we will be able to know the probable cause that may lead to its failure.
Why do dental implants fail?
Poor bone mass
One of the vital components of a successful surgery of the titanium dental implants is having adequate bone mass. Having a feeble bone density may dislodge the implant, which may cause the procedure to fail. Patients with type IV or III bone requires a combination of good judgment and clinical experience to increase the odds of success of the operation.
Smoking
Chain smoking may also cause the procedure to go wrong. Since our body needs the right amount of oxygen to function correctly, smoking hinders the oxygen’s flow. Thus, affecting our body’s healing process. Once disrupted, it may cause the dental implant procedure to turn out badly. Although it’s difficult, it’s best to veer away from smoking especially during your recovery period.
Poor oral hygiene
Poor oral hygiene leads to bacterial growth which may cause a lot of problems in your dental implants. If not treated properly, it may cause an infection to the implant, thus, resulting in the implant’s deterioration. So, it’s best to always practice proper dental hygiene to ensure that your oral cavity is free from any bacterial growth. Dentists often advise their patients to brush their teeth thrice a day or every after meals. It’s also best to floss your teeth each day to remove all the food debris between each tooth.
Teeth grinding
Grinding or clenching one’s teeth may also ruin your tooth implant. The grinding movement between your teeth tends to wear down the titanium dental implants, causing them to shift. It also adds pressure to the patient’s choppers, which may lead to an implant displacement. You may stop teeth grinding or bruxism by avoiding foods and beverages that contain caffeine such as sodas and coffee. You may also relax your jaw muscles every night by holding a warm cloth against your cheek.
Gum disease
During the first couple of months of your post-op surgery, the dental implants must undergo a process of osseointegration. It’s as a fusion between the dental implant and the jawbone. Once the process is complete, your ceramic dental implants will be stable enough to support the dental prosthetics.
Gum disease may cause serious damage to the tooth implants, which might affect its durability. If the gum disease spreads even further, it may also affect the remaining gum tissues as well as your jaw bone. So, it’s best to treat the gum disease prior to the operation. You may want to consult a dental implant specialist to get the right antibiotic medication for your condition.
How do I prevent dental implant failure?
Titanium dental implants have high success rates, which makes it easy for you to maintain it. Ensure that you practice proper dental hygiene to keep any harmful bacteria at bay.
Use interdental brushes to thoroughly clean hard to reach places inside your oral cavity and around your mini dental implants. It’s also best to quit smoking and focus on your health, especially while you’re still recovering from the dental surgery.
Lastly, regularly visit your dentist who specializes in dental implants in London, Ontario to monitor your oral health. It’s highly advisable to have an oral prophylaxis every six months to ensure that your teeth are in good condition. Doing so will help eliminate any tartar that has developed for the past couple of months.
