Why do dental implants fail?

There are several factors to take into consideration when thinking of having dental implants.

Depending on different parameters such as bone quality (bone density and bone level), presence of any infections and aesthetic requirements, we can decide which is the most suitable option for the patient.

The most common options include delayed and immediate implant placement. Today we are going to focus on immediate implant placement.

With delayed implant placement, the areas where implants are to be placed are left for a period of 4-6 months minimum in order for bone tissue to heal.

In immediate implant placement, the implants are placed into the areas directly following tooth extraction. The socket which is left behind after the teeth are removed is carefully prepared in order for an implant to be placed. This allows dentists to reduce the number of surgical procedures, resulting in shorter treatment times. In addition, bone height will be maintained thus improving implants bone support and aesthetic results.

However, immediate implant placement may also lead to a higher implant failure rate, due to an  inability to predict future soft and hard tissue levels, and also a difficulty in achieving implant primary stability. For this reason careful planning and case selection are needed to ensure implant success and final aesthetic outcomes.

In addition to this, immediate loading is becoming more common as success rates for this procedure are now acceptable. This can cut months off the treatment time and in some cases a prosthetic tooth can be attached to the implants at the same time as the implant.