Although dental implants have a very high success rate of 97% and above, implant complications and failures do occur in some cases. Some complications are relatively minor and can be corrected easily by a simple fix. There are two basic types of implant failure.
- Early implant failure
- Late implant failure
Early Implant Failure
Early implant failure is caused due to the interference in the healing process after implant placement. During the healing period, these implants will show progressive bone loss on radiographs. Mechanical debridement (plastic curettes), chemical detoxification with supersaturated solution of citric acid, antibiotics and guided bone regeneration therapy can be used to resolve this issue.
Late Implant Failure
Late implant failures result due to traumatic occlusion or occlusal overload. These are common in patients with bruxism or in patients where implant bridgework replaces quadrants or full arches of missing teeth. Consult with your dentist regarding the issue to come to the right conclusion.