In the field of dentistry, dental implants in Fort Worth are regarded as the superior tooth replacement option. After all, they are unmatched in durability, lifelike in look and feel, and able to prevent your jawbone from deteriorating. Plus, they hold an impressive 95% success rate! With all that being said, it is important to know that there is a small possibility of them becoming loose, falling out, or otherwise failing in the short or long-term. Read on to learn the common causes and how to prevent that from happening!
Common Causes of Dental Implant Failure
Whether you are missing one tooth or an entire arch of teeth, the last thing you want is for your dental implant to fail, leaving you back at square one. Although the reasons can vary from patient to patient, below are a few of the most common causes of dental implant failure:
- Existing infections in the mouth
- Shifting of the dental implant during the healing process
- Not giving the dental implants enough time to integrate
- Poor oral habits (i.e., neglecting to brush, using tobacco products, etc.).
- Grinding and clenching your teeth
- Excessive stress on the dental implants
- Too much food impacted in between dental implants
The Importance of a Cone Beam Scanner
Dental implants have come a long way even in the last 50 years. After all, technology today is lightyears ahead of where it was at the time, resulting in a more comfortable, safe, efficient dental implant process. One of the advancements we have to thank for that is cone beam scanners, which allows for 3-dimensional imaging of the unique anatomy of your mouth, jaw, and face. Not only does this provide your dentist with several different viewing planes, but it does so in extremely high resolution, leading to optimal planning and placement. Neglecting to use state-of-the-art technology like this can negatively impact the success of your dental implants in the short and long-term.
4 Best Practices for Preventing Dental Implant Failure
Fortunately, there are a few best practices you can implement to prevent dental implant failure, including:
- Practicing proper oral hygiene (i.e., brushing twice a day, flossing daily, etc.).
- Visiting your dentist every six months for a professional checkup and cleaning
- Avoiding hard, crunchy foods that can damage your dental implants (especially during the healing process)
- Quitting poor dental habits, like chewing on ice or using your teeth as tools
The silver lining is that you can do your part to set your dental implants up for success. Just be aware of the common causes, pick a dentist with extensive experience and the latest technology, and implement the above prevention practices!
About the Author
Dr. Anil Patel completed his Bachelor of Dental Surgery in India before earning his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Southern California School of Dentistry. Today, he has over 250 hours of continuing education under his belt, is a Fellow of the International Dental Implant Association, and has undergone advanced training on dental implantology. In addition to his impressive resume, he genuinely loves helping patients regain the smile they’ve been missing with state-of-the-art dental implants! To learn more about the procedure or schedule an appointment with our dentist in Fort Worth, visit his website or give him a call at 817-717-6788.