If you're curious about dental implant problems and what you should know, then you've come to the right place. Learn more here!

How Common Are Dental Implant Problems?

What Should You Do if You Experience Dental Implant Problems?

If you notice any of the problems on this list, or any other implant problems, see your dentist right away. When the implant is just starting to have problems, it may still be possible to save it.

But if you wait too long, it will probably come loose or have to be removed. When this happens, you'll need to wait for your mouth to heal completely before the implant can be replaced. This waiting period can last up to a year.

Reasons You May Have Frequent Implant Problems

As we mentioned, you shouldn't experience any implant problems in the first place. Thus, if your implant has already failed two times or more, there's clearly some underlying problem that's causing this.

One of the most common causes is that you're ineligible for the procedure due to low bone density or other issues that we'll explain later.

Otherwise, it's likely that your dentist made a mistake when performing the procedure.

What to Do When Your Implants Fail

When implants fail, try going to one or two dentists other than the dentist who performed the procedure. Ask what they think caused the implant failure.

If it seems as though it was the fault of the performing dentist, confront them about getting your money back. You might also want to enlist legal help if your negotiations with the dentist aren't working out. It's possible you're a victim of malpractice or negligence.

Fortunately, it won't come to this in most cases. No dentist wants to deal with a lawsuit that can cost them their license. So most will refund you when your implants fail, or give you credit towards an alternative dental procedure.

Dental Implant Infection Signs

Next, it's important to notice the signs of dental implant infections early on. Remember: if the dentist can address the problem quickly enough, he/she might be able to save the implant. Signs of infection include:

• Pain/discomfort near the implant
• Blood, pus, or other discharge around the implant area
• Swelling, redness, and/or recession of gums
• Fever
• You have bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth that doesn't go away
• You have difficulty chewing
• Your implant feels loose



An infection can get worse very fast and will soon cause the implant to fail. Get help from a dental specialist right away if you notice any of these signs.

If you're unable to see your regular dentist immediately, don't wait. Find a different dentist who can see you or get emergency dental care if you need to.

Dental Implant Problems and Their Causes

Unfortunately, as rare as they are, dental implant problems do still occur. Now, we'll describe the most common dental implant problems and what causes them.

Dental Implant Infection

It's no wonder that infection is the most common post-surgical complication there is. It's impossible to sanitize the surgical site 100% because there are millions of bacteria on and within your body.

And your mouth is no different. There are more than 700 species of bacteria living within your mouth. Therefore, infection is one complication that can happen no matter how careful the dentist is.

In addition, poor dental hygiene before or after the surgery increases the chance of infection. So does failure to obey the postoperative care instructions prescribed by your dentist.

Insufficient Bone Density

In order for your implant to become permanent, it must fuse with your jawbone. This is called osseointegration.

For this reason, patients with very low bone density are ineligible for dental implant installation. If there's not enough bone, the implant won't fuse securely enough to stay in permanently.

Still, it's possible for some patients with low jawbone density to become eligible for dental implants. A bone graft could be applied to the jawbone to replenish the amount of bone necessary for osseointegration.

However, if the patient suffers from certain conditions that affect bone density, such as osteoporosis, that's different. In such cases, the bone density may be too low even with a bone graft.

Foreign Body Rejection/Allergies

Here's another way a patient may not be eligible for implants. Their body might simply reject the implant due to an allergic reaction or some other condition.

Fortunately, the materials used to make implants today are very hypoallergenic to minimize the risk of rejection. There are even different materials to choose from in case the patient is allergic to any of them.

Still, the bodies of some patients are extra sensitive to any foreign material installed in the body. Their bodies may reject any material the dentist attempts to install no matter what.

Improper or Slow Healing After Surgery



Certain lifestyle choices and health conditions can hinder your body's ability to heal. These include:

• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Arthritis
• An autoimmune disease
• Poor dental hygiene
• Heavy drinking and/or smoking
• Heavy consumption of foods that are bad for your dental health

These factors cause unhealthy conditions in your mouth or decrease your ability to heal in general. Ultimately, this can prevent osseointegration and cause your implant to fail.

Avoid These Dental Implant Problems With the Right Dentist

To avoid these dental implant problems, you need a dentist who will install them correctly the first time. You need Complete Health Dentistry of NEPA. Contact us now to talk to us about getting dental implants.