When I agreed to get a dental implant they told me it would last many years. I’ve only had it for two years and it is already loose. Should I still have to pay for it? Do I get a new one when it falls out for free?
Kurt
Dear Kurt,
When maintained well, dental implants can last for many years.
Before anyone panics, I want to recommend you let your dentist know what is going on. Yes, dental implants should last for many years when properly placed and well maintained. That being said, sometimes both you and the dentist can do everything right and a body will still reject the implants. Each person’s body responds to an implant or medical procedure differently.
Just because yours feels loose doesn’t mean it is going to fail. However, it does need to be looked at right away. There are a few reasons why it could feel loose and it may not even be the implant itself which is the problem.
The easiest issue would be the dental crown is loose. In this case, it is just a matter of the porcelain crown being bonded on again to secure it. Another problem could be the abutment. If that is faulty, your dentist could talk to the manufacturer and get it replaced at no cost to you.
If the implant itself is loose that is more serious. There are a few reasons an implant can come loose. An infection is often a problem. With any surgical procedure, infection is a risk. The sooner you see your dentist, the sooner he can start you on antibiotics and try to save the implant. Another reason could be it doesn’t integrate with the bone. You are at a greater risk for both of these problems if you smoke. Finally, it could come loose because of a faulty placement. If you can prove that, then you can get a refund.
If a Dental Implant Fails
When done properly, dental implants have about a 98% success rate, but as I mentioned earlier, even the best procedures can fail. When that happens you have two choices— you can use a different tooth replacement or you can start over and try again. If you are getting a single dental implant, a dental bridge is a perfectly good substitution option.
If you want to try for a dental implant again, you will need to have some bone grafting done to make sure there is enough bone there to support the new implant.
I hope this helps you. This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.
