Why Do Dental Implants Fail?

Millions of people lose one or many teeth every year. Missing a tooth can lead to a decrease in your self-esteem. Studies show that edentulous people have a hard time eating, speaking, and interacting with others.

Dental implants in Waterloo are an excellent option to replace your lost teeth and improve your quality of life. You may keep reading to find out more about them.

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants near you are oral devices that replace the root of a missing tooth. They are basically artificial roots.

What are the Causes of Tooth Loss?

A person can lose a tooth due to the following reasons:

- Tooth decay – It is the most common reason for tooth loss. When you eat, bits of food debris is in your mouth, and if you don’t brush them away, bacteria thrive with them, producing acids that decay your dentition. If untreated, the infection may lead to tooth loss.

- Trauma – An accident can lead to a knocked-out tooth. You cannot predict an accident; however, we strongly recommend our patients to wear a mouthguard when playing a contact sport to protect their teeth.

- Periodontal disease – It is the affection of the gums and bone that hold teeth in place. If you don't remove dental plaque build-up, it hardens and keeps building up beneath your gums. The gingiva and the bone recede, and your teeth shift and consequently fall out.

What to Expect of Dental Implant Surgery?

If any of the above happened to you, visit a dental clinic near you for dental implant surgery.

Thanks to modern dentistry, the procedure is simple. Your surgeon will administer a local anesthetic to numb the area and drill the dental implant inside your jawbone. After three months, it will fuse with your bone, and a prosthetic dentist will place a porcelain dental crown on top. 

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

A dental implant may last up to a lifetime if you take proper oral care. Brush your teeth twice a day, floss between teeth, and avoid sugary snacks if you want any dental treatment to last.

Can Dental Implants Fail?

Dental implants have a success rate of 98%. Although rare, they have a higher chance of failing in the following patients:

- Heavy smokers – Your surgeon will probably ask you to avoid smoking the day before and the week after the surgery. Smoking is not why dental implants may fail, but smokers are in the risk of failure group.

- Medically compromised patients – Such as patients undergoing chemotherapy or with uncontrolled diabetes.

 - People that grind their teeth – Whether it is due to high levels of stress or another reason, grinding your teeth can affect a dental implant due to the heavy forces. We recommend using a mouthguard if you tend to clench your teeth (whether you are getting an implant or not).

 - People with poor dental hygiene – Although dental implants don’t get cavities, your gums can get infected due to lack of care, leading to peri-implantitis. This condition leads to bone loss and failure of the implant.

 Choose the Right Professional

We strongly suggest seeking the correct professional for this treatment. Seek a professional who is specialized in the field. Undergoing dental implant surgery with a dentist without the proper training can lead to poor placement and future failure.

If you have any other questions regarding dental implants, you may visit our dental clinic in Waterloo at your best convenience. We have a team of caring doctors who look forward to helping you improve your smile and your life quality.