Dental Implant Failure & Salvage – Tulsa, OK
Preserving Your Hard-Earned Smile
At O’Brien Wellness Center, we understand the intricacies of dental implants, as Dr. O’Brien is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and has countless hours of specialty training involving the placement, restoration, and salvage of dental implants. With our team’s expertise, we can help preserve your smile when signs of dental implant failure are prevalent, and if the implants have failed, we can help you rebuild it. Call our office today if you’re experiencing signs of implant failure so we can help address them in a timely manner.
Why Choose O’Brien Wellness Center for Dental Implant Failure & Salvage?
- Precise, Modern Diagnostic Dental Technology
- Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists
- Dental Insurance-Friendly & CareCredit Available
Why Do Dental Implants Fail?
Dental implants can fail for a number of underlying reasons, but the majority of implant failure occurs due to an infection that can develop around the posts, called peri-implantitis. Peri-implantitis develops when harmful oral bacteria accumulate around the dental implants and restorations, leading to the breakdown of supportive soft and hard tissues.
While peri-implantitis is often the main catalyst for failure, there are other factors that can put you at a higher risk of developing this infection that you’ll want to be mindful of, including:
- Underlying medical conditions that impact the immune system, such as cancer, diabetes, etc.
- Physical trauma that occurs to the mouth.
- Initial failed osseointegration, which is when the implants fuse with the jawbone after being placed.
Signs of Failing Dental Implants
Dental implant failure can occur at any point in time, either soon after your implants have been placed, or years down the road. Here are some signs to keep an eye out for that could indicate implant failure:
- Severe pain. While it’s natural to feel sore after your implant placement surgery, once your initial healing period is complete, your dental implants should feel like a natural part of your body and shouldn’t cause you pain.
- Following your implant placement, osseointegration will occur over three to six months, which means that the implants will fuse with the jawbone. Because of this, your dental implants should never feel loose.
- Bleeding and swelling. These are common signs of infection, especially immediately following your surgery.
- Difficulty chewing. Your dental implants should make chewing food feel natural. If it doesn’t, there could be an underlying problem.
How Does Dental Implant Salvage Work?
Dental implant salvage isn’t a term used for one specific treatment. In fact, it can encompass a wide range of approaches to preserve your hard-earned smile. After Dr. O’Brien has examined your mouth, he can determine whether peri-implantitis is an issue, if your restoration is simply loose, or if there’s a different underlying cause for your symptoms. Based on this, he may recommend a deep cleaning and antibiotics, removing the dental implants, re-securing the prosthetic, or other infection control measures.