Having your tooth replaced with a dental implant does not mean it is indestructible. Dental implants have just as big of a chance of failing as real teeth. By understanding how an implant could fail, you can take proper care that will cause your implant to last a very long time without becoming damaged.

Smoking

If you needed another reason to stop smoking, having a dental implant is one of them. A study published in 2007 found that smokers are twice as likely to have a dental implant fail than non-smokers. This is because cigarette smoking can cause bone loss in the jaw, which is detrimental to the implant. Dental implants require that you have a healthy jawbone for the implant to hold in place, and smoking will weaken the jawbone over time.

Poor Oral Hygiene

Dental implants might be fake, but they still require regular cleaning just like real teeth do. If you have a dental implant, you should still be brushing at least twice a day. Flossing and using mouthwash are also important, as infections could occur in the gums and cause the dental implant to fail.

The main concern you have to worry about is gum disease, as this will weaken the jawbone that secures the implant in your mouth.

Sinus Infections

Your sinuses are closely related to your teeth, especially in your upper jaw. Sinus problems are known to cause tooth related problems, and it is not unheard of to have them affect the health of dental implants. If you have an upper jaw dental implant and a sinus problem, make sure to have your sinus issue treated promptly. Severe sinus problems could cause a dental implant to fail if they are left untreated.

Hard Foods

A dental implant is strong, but it can still become damaged in the same way that a real tooth can. You should avoid putting excess pressure on the dental implant when eating foods that are hard, and distribute chewing across all your teeth as much as possible.

Your implant also runs the risk of breaking if you accidentally bite down on a hard object such as a bone or popcorn kernel. If this happens, be sure to immediately visit a dentist, such as Contemporary Dentistry - Complete Dental Health, to have it repaired.

Unable To Integrate

Sometimes a dental implant fails when you are doing everything right, simply because the implant refuses to bond with your jawbone. It is rare that it happens, but when it does, it is completely out of your control. The jawbone will need time to heal before you attempt having the implant installed again.

By understanding how dental implants fail, you can take the necessary precautions to avoid having it happen to you.