Dental Implant Salvage – Arlington, TX

Save an Implant and Save Your Smile

With a success rate that is above 95 percent, dental implant are just about the most reliable tooth replacements available. Of course, that doesn’t mean no one ever has a problem with an implant. Failure is a possibility. In that case, Dr. Baldwin is an expert at dental implant salvage in Arlington, TX. The sooner you seek treatment, the better the chance that the implant can be saved and your smile will remain strong and beautiful.

Why Do Dental Implants Fail?

There are a few reasons why a dental implant might fail. These include:

Stress on the implant. There is a physiological limit to the stress that your jawbone can endure. That limit could be surpassed if there is too much stress because you don’t have enough implants supporting the number and type of teeth replaced.

Incorrect bite. An incorrect bite is stressful on your jaw, too, and may lead to eventual bone loss. Without treatment, there can be other problems as well, such as jaw pain and gum tissue loss.

Teeth grinding. People respond to the everyday stress of living in different ways. For some, teeth grinding or bruxism is the physical expression of stress. If you grind or clench your teeth at night or during the day, this can put unnatural pressure on dental implants.

Food impaction. If there is too much space between a tooth and an implant, or between two implants, then food can collect around teeth, implants, and gums.

Poor oral hygiene. Your dental implants need to be brushed and flossed daily just like your natural teeth. Failing to do so can put the integrity of implants at risk.

More often than not, implant failure happens shortly after the post has been surgically embedded. At this point, there is some risk that the surrounding bone tissue and the implant will not properly bond.

Dental Implant Salvage

Be aware of signs that could indicate implant failure:

• A loose or wiggling dental implant
• Tissue swelling or redness around the implant
• Difficulty chewing food or biting with the implant

If you notice any of the signs of failure, you should see Dr. Baldwin as soon as possible. He will assess the situation and recommend the appropriate solution.

Sometimes, the problem is not the implant itself, but the restoration that is attached to the implant. In this case, the solution might be a new crown, bridge or denture.

However, if the problem is the result of infection or trauma, then oral surgery may be necessary. The implant is removed, so the area can heal. Afterward, the implant can be replaced. If there is a loss of bone volume at the site because of severe infection, then bone graft surgery may be required in order to give a new dental implant in Arlington the support it needs to succeed.