What Determines Success and Failure with Tooth Implants?
tooth Implants can be presented as a perfect or near replacement for missing teeth, yet patients are rarely informed of potential risks and failure rates. Implants have serious potential complications and are not guaranteed successful; patients must be made aware that there is risk involved and accept that implant placement cannot guarantee safety or aesthetic results if done incorrectly. For this reason, proper placement of the implant must always be done by someone experienced and knowledgeable about dental implants; otherwise, potential failure rates must also be factored in.
Tooth Implants have come a long way since their inception in the 1950s. Today’s tooth implant technology evolves at an astoundingly rapid pace, often leading to improved success rates with each new development. While some new technologies may appear on the market that promote themselves well in advance of actual improvements, others can actually hinder success – something fortunately rarely happens.
What Causes Tooth Implant Failure? Tooth implant failure can occur for various reasons. Unfortunately, some risks cannot be avoided and that’s why Tooth Implants have an estimated success rate of 90-95 percent, according to various studies (the actual figure is closer to 95%). Unfortunately, certain fractures do not heal even with the best approximate and most mobility. Non-unions (meaning healing has not begun) or fibrous unions (where scar tissue replaces bone between fractures) may occur. Depending on the type and location of the fracture as well as the patient’s condition, non-unions and fibrous unions occur around 5% of the time – similar to how often Tooth Implants fail.
Similar principles apply to healing a fracture and implant healing. To guarantee successful osseointegration, it’s essential to accurately match the bone to the surface of the implant. Osseointegration occurs when bone takes in and fuses itself around it; failure rates for implants are comparable to fractures that don’t heal properly; instead of having bone surrounding the implant, you might get fibrous encapsulation similar to what occurs with non-unions in fractures.
Implant failure can be caused by diabetes that isn’t properly controlled, bone and congenital disorders, drugs like glucocorticoids (prednisone), immunosupressants and bisphosphonate medications like Zoometa Fosamax Actonel Boniva Fosamax Actonel). Furthermore, smoking and poor hygiene habits could increase the likelihood of implant failure. Anyone suffering from any of these issues or taking these medications should inform their implant surgeon so that a treatment plan tailored to their individual needs and medical conditions can be developed.
Other factors can contribute to Tooth Implant failure. Implants may fail during or after healing, with early failure defined as any event occurring before osteointegration (healing phase) or when the crown has been attached to the implant. On the other hand, late failure refers to any time after placement of an implant with its associated tooth under operation.
Factors that could contribute to early failure include:
An infection may develop shortly after implant placement and be caused by:
- Bones often become overheated during surgery (usually due to a lack of irrigation)
- Too much force is applied when setting implants (too tightly fitting implants may even cause bone resorption)
- Placing implants requires only minimal force (loosely fitted implants can lead to immobilization and poor healing).
- Implant infections that have been contaminated by contaminants have compromised the osteotomy epithelial cell lines at the osteotomy site (connective tissue, also known as scar tissue that fills in the socket around the implant instead of bone) leading to poor-quality bones.
Excessive forces during osseointegration (the healing process of implant-bone attachment) may lead to underfunction and mobile implants; additionally, inadequate compliance with postoperative medications and/or directions is frequently responsible for Tooth Implants rejection due to titanium allergies.
Late failures of dental implants are commonly due to poor hygiene from the patient. Patients may lose teeth due to insufficient care, and this habit continues even after implant placement. Alternatively, an overloaded implant may simply prove unworkable for some. Some patients with larger bite forces may require more implants to better distribute the stress. Implants placed lateraly can fail prematurely; on the other hand, teeth that are loaded axially (straight up and down) typically last longer. Tooth and implants that are loaded laterally or tangentially may weaken the bone and fail. Another factor for failure can be an improperly planned implant placement, an accidental placement, or poorly designed prosthetic teeth or devices. Implants are prone to failure for many reasons. Some risks can be controlled and avoided, while others cannot be helped. How can patients best ensure their chances of successful implant placement and minimize the chance of implant failure? First and foremost, patients should maintain discipline with medication use by adhering to all instructions. Secondly, you should reduce smoking as much as possible.
Finding the ideal dentist and surgeon is key for successful outcomes. Look for an implant surgeon with a proven record of success; Oral Surgeons, Periodontists, and General Dentists with advanced Post Graduate training should all be considered when performing this specialization. Implants are usually done as teams; make sure both surgeons who will implant you are qualified as well as any dentists responsible for restoring it (putting the tooth on top) are qualified. Be sure to ask lots of questions; request before-and-after photos and ask about patient testimonials.
Implantology (the placement of implants) is a highly technical procedure that requires meticulous planning and skillful experience. Training is essential, but having knowledge in your chosen field of interest can make the procedure even more successful. Make sure your surgeon is board-certified and how long they have been placing implants; additionally, ask if they work directly with restorative dentists or collaborate on projects together.
