PRESERVE YOUR TEETH IN NEW YORK CITY
How Dental Implants Fail Mechanically
The reasons for dental implant failure generally fall into one of two categories.
The first is mechanical failure, which occurs when something breaks because of excessive force or poor design. The second is biological failure, which occurs when the implant becomes infected or does not properly integrate with the surrounding bone.
Let’s look at the differences between these two types of late implant failure.
With a mechanical failure, the porcelain on the implant crown may fracture. In other cases, the abutment screw—or, rarely, the implant fixture itself—may break.
These failures can usually be addressed through repair. Sometimes, this requires removing the crown or bridge. Because implant restorations are often screwed into place, they can typically be unscrewed when repair or replacement is necessary.
Thankfully, fractures of the implant fixture itself are very rare. When the fixture breaks, however, the implant usually must be removed.
Late mechanical failures may be avoided through proper planning and design of the implant crown or bridge. Identifying patients who place excessive force on their teeth due to bruxism, also known as teeth grinding or clenching, can also help reduce the risk.
Mechanical implant failure can usually be treated using conventional methods, especially when osseointegration has not been compromised. In other words, the implant itself may remain healthy and stable while only the crown or abutment requires repair or replacement.
How Dental Implants Fail Biologically
Biological implant failure is caused by infection. One of the most difficult late implant complications to treat is a slow-developing infection known as peri-implantitis.
Peri-implantitis is similar to periodontitis around a natural tooth, but it develops around a dental implant instead. The condition is caused by bacteria and can lead to bone loss around the implant. In many cases, this bone loss is irreversible.
Treatment for peri-implantitis is usually surgical. The implant must be exposed and decontaminated, after which a bone graft and collagen membranes may be placed. Growth factors may also be used to support healing, along with antibiotics to help treat the infection.
Peri-implantitis is believed to originate partly from bacteria living within a microscopic space around the implant connection known as the micro-gap.
Bacteria that colonize the gums and implant surface may enter the micro-gap and establish a habitat. From there, bacteria can spread along the implant surface and contribute to bone loss.
If left untreated, peri-implantitis may eventually lead to the loss of the implant. Surprisingly, an implant can remain rigid and continue functioning even after a significant amount of surrounding bone has been lost.
Taking Preventive Measures
The best treatment for peri-implantitis is prevention.
Remember the micro-gap that may harbor bacteria and contribute to peri-implantitis? At Preserve Your Teeth Dentistry, we use an implant designed without a micro-gap at the bone level.
Eliminating this micro-gap helps keep bacteria away from the surrounding gums and bone, reducing the likelihood of peri-implantitis developing.
Clinical studies have shown that tissue-level implant designs, such as the Straumann Tissue Level implant used at Preserve Your Teeth Dentistry, are associated with fewer cases of peri-implantitis.
