Can Dental Implants Fall Out?
By
Dr Shivam Jha
This blog post will address the topic, “can dental implants fall out” and cover topics like what happens when dental implant falls out, can a fallen implant be re-inserted, can a loose implant be fixed, can dental implants be removed, why do dental implants fail, discomforts associated with a failed dental implant, appropriate techniques and tools for dental implant removal, role of implant material on dental implant removal, is it painful to remove a dental implant, what happens when a tooth implant is removed, is it easy to remove dental implant, procedure for removing a dental implant and dental implant removal recovery time.
Can Dental Implants Fall Out?
Dental implants can fall out but the possibility of such an event is rare. However, poor implant quality, poor oral hygiene, inaccurate implant inclination and placement and excessive force due to bruxism can be some of the reasons for a dental implant to fail and fall out.
What happens when a dental implant falls out?
When a dental implant fails and falls out, the patient may feel a gap or hole in that area where the implant was placed. The patient may also experience pain, swelling and bleeding.
Immediately consult your dentist or implantologist if your dental implant has fallen out. If it is only the abutment or crown that has come off the implant, then you need not panic.
Can A Fallen Implant Be Re-Inserted?
Yes, a fallen implant can be re-inserted. Consult your dentist or implantologist immediately if your implant has fallen out.
Loose crowns or abutment can make you feel that your implant has fallen out. In such cases, the loose crown or abutment can be tightened by your dentist.
Can a loose implant be fixed?
Implants become loose mainly as a result of poor osseointegration and have to be removed and replaced.
In many cases it is just the crown that becomes loose and can be tightened.
Can Dental Implants Be Removed
Yes, dental implants can be removed. There are multiple reasons for removal of a dental implant, the most common reason being dental implant failure.
Mobile dental implants or dental implants with less osseointegration can be removed using instruments like levers, elevators and forceps, which are used for tooth-extraction as well.
Why Do Dental Implants Fail? Common Reasons For Removal Of Dental Implant
Dental implants fail due to multiple reasons:
Biological Reasons For Dental Implant Failure
Failure To Attain Osseointegration
Osseointegration is the connection that develops between bone and the implant at both structural and functional levels.
In a few cases, this implant-bone connection is not established leading to implant failure.
Peri-Implantitis
Peri-Implantitis is a scientific term for inflammation around the implant resulting in marginal bone loss and mucosal inflammation.
A 2015 meta-analysis study reported that peri-implantitis is common in almost 22% of implants.
Another study published in International Journal of Periodontics & Restorative Dentistry found peri-implantitis to be the main reason for failure of implants.
Mechanical Reasons For Dental Implant Failure
Fracture Of Implant
Implant fracture is a common mechanical cause of dental implant failure. It results mainly due to:
- Grinding Teeth or Bruxism
- Increased Biting Force
- Mechanical Trauma
- Extreme bone loss
Iatrogenic Reasons For Dental Implant Failure
Some implants fail due to poor surgical execution that includes:
- Incorrect location
- Incorrect or improper inclination
- Poor oral hygiene leading to contamination of site
- Overheating of bone due to inappropriate instrumentation
Functional Reasons For Dental Implant Failure
Improper implant design and functional overload are functional reasons for dental implant failure.
Discomforts Associated With A Failed Dental Implant
The discomforts associated with a failed dental implant are:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Infection
- Movable Implants
- Bone loss (visible on X-ray)
Inadequate or failed osseointegration is the most common reason for dental implant failure.
Appropriate Techniques & Tools For Dental Implant Removal
Removal of dental implants requires precision and selection of proper removal instruments. The dental implant removal process should be fast, inexpensive and minimally traumatic.
Appropriate tool selection is crucial for removal of dental implants. Following are mentioned some of the tools for dental implant removal:
Tooth Extraction Tools
Tools used for tooth extraction such as elevators, levers and forceps can be used to remove failed dental implants, mainly due to inadequate bone-implant contact resulting in mobile implants.
Trephine burs
Trephine burs having cylindrical blades are commonly used for dental implant removal.
CAD/CAM guided technique has been recently proved to be more accurate and minimally invasive.
Piezo surgery
Piezo surgery is a precise and less traumatic surgical removal of an implant without interfering with the nerves and blood vessels lying around the implants.
Laser surgery
Laser surgery is the less invasive surgical removal of dental implants without any thermal damage.
However, laser surgery is reported by many studies to be more time consuming as compared to other procedures of dental implant removal.
Counter-torque ratchet technique
The Counter-torque ratchet technique is the least traumatic dental implant removal technique that keeps the surrounding bone least damaged.
Electrosurgery
Electrosurgery is a dental implant removal process associated with osteonecrosis as a complication.
Role Of Implant Material On Dental Implant Removal
The type of material with which an implant is made may have a significant role to play in the removal of the implant.
Zirconia implants have a high success rate due to its excellent biocompatibility and less susceptibility to plaque accumulation. Therefore, they also have less chances of failure and have high chances of not requiring a removal.
Non-zirconia implants may often fail due to several reasons and therefore may impact the removal process as well.
Is It Painful To Remove A Dental Implant?
Removal of dental implant may not be painful but you might experience temporary pain after the removal of dental implant.
The severity of pain might be similar to the pain you experience after implant insertion. The pain must subside after proper medications or within a week.
What Happens When A Tooth Implant Is Removed?
When a dental implant is removed, the adjoining area is cleaned and examined for any potential bone loss.
The lost bone replacement is crucial and must be done as advised by your dentist.
Is It Easy To Remove Dental Implant?
The answer to this depends on the osseointegration level of the implant i.e. the degree of contact between the implant and the bone.
If the implant is firmly attached to the bone, then its removal is not easy.
The implants in the lower jaw or mandible are more difficult to remove than the implants in the upper jaw or maxilla.
What Is The Procedure For Removing A Dental Implant?
Procedure for removing a dental implant is similar to its insertion process.
Step 1: Local Anesthesia for painless removal.
Step 2: Crown removal
Step 3: Abutment removal
Step 4: Screw removal using instruments that best suits the condition
Step 5: Stitching up the Gums
What Is The Dental Implant Removal Recovery Time?
Dental implants after removal may take almost 5 days for recovery. You may experience pain and slight swelling during the recovery process which will subside after medications.
CONCLUSION
This blog post addressed the topic, “can dental implants fall out”. We understood what happens when a dental implant falls out, can a fallen implant be re-inserted, can a loose implant be fixed, common reasons for dental implant failure, discomforts associated with a failed dental implant, appropriate techniques and tools for dental implant removal and role of implant material on dental implant removal.
The article outlined how painful and difficult it is to remove a dental implant, what happens when a tooth implant is removed, procedure for removing a dental implant and dental implant removal recovery time.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs): Can Dental Implants Fall Out
What Is Meant By Early Implant Failure?
Early implant failure means that the implant has failed within a few weeks or months of its insertion.
The reasons for early implant failure can be inadequate bone-implant contact (osseointegration), or infection resulting from poor oral hygiene, or poor healing due to continuous movement of the implant, or may be due to some iatrogenic cause.
Early implant failure results in dental implant removal by a specialist.
What Does Late Implant Failure Mean?
Late implant failure means that the dental implant has failed after one year of its insertion.
If the failure is before one year of insertion, then it is called an early implant failure.
Late implant failure may occur due to reasons like peri-implantitis, bruxism or excessive bite force resulting in a mobile implant.
What Are The Disadvantages Associated With A Dental Implant?
The disadvantages associated with a dental implant are:
- Expensive and out-of-pocket for middle class
- Pain and swelling post-placement (temporary)
- Bleeding
- Complications of anesthesia: nausea, vomiting and dizziness
- Not always covered under health or dental insurance
Who is not considered as a good candidate for dental implants?
People suffering from any of the following conditions are not considered as a good candidate:
- Periodontal Disease — increases the risk of peri-implantitis and thereby the risk of dental implant failure.
- Bruxism — clenching and grinding of the teeth may cause dental implant fracture or may result in poor bone-implant contact.
- Smoker — Smoking increases the risk of periodontal disease which may further result in peri-implantitis.
- Bleeding Disorders — People suffering from bleeding disorders in which hemostasis is difficult to achieve are not considered a good candidate for implant surgery.
- Diabetes Mellitus — Diabetic patients are not considered a good candidate for dental implant placement as the healing process may take a longer time. However, patients taking medications and having controlled sugar levels can undergo elective dental implant surgery.
- Medications — People on medications like bisphosphonates and angiogenesis inhibitors are not a good candidate for dental implant placement.
- Radiation Therapy — People under radiation therapy are not an ideal candidate for dental implant placement.
What is the lifespan of dental implants?
Lifespan of dental implants may range anywhere from 10 years to 20 years or more.
Studies suggest that 90-95% of dental implants have a lifespan of at least 10 years.
On the other hand, studies also predict that the chances of a dental implant to survive for 16-20 years are 51-75%.
The lifespan also depends on the individual’s oral hygiene and oral habits. Individuals with poor oral hygiene or bad oral habits may experience early implant failure or less lifespan of their dental implant.
Other FAQs about Dental Implants that you may be interested in.
Can Dental Implants Be Done In One Day
Can Dental Implants Make You Sick?
Can Dental Implants Cause Cancer?
References:
Removal of failed dental implants revisited: Questions and answers
Osseointegration
Derks, J, Tomasi, C. Peri-implant health and disease. A systematic review of current epidemiology. J Clin Periodontol 2015; 42 (Suppl. 16): S158– S171. doi: 10.1111/jcpe.12334.
Anitua, Eduardo, et al. “Prognosis of Dental Implants Immediately Placed in Sockets Affected by Peri-implantitis: A Retrospective Pilot Study.” International Journal of Periodontics & Restorative Dentistry 37.5 (2017).
Signs Of A Failed Dental Implant – Colgate
Disadvantages of Dental Implants. (2020)