In this blog we look at the most prevalent reason for dental implant failure

Dental implants are one of the best treatment options to replace missing teeth. The treatment involves the dental implant—which acts as an artificial tooth root—and either an implant crown or bridge depending on the number of teeth which need to be replaced. When you visit Curtis Couch D.D.S.’s dental practice in Thousand Oaks one of our friendly dentists will assess you oral health and determine the best treatment for you. Part of determining which treatment is right for you is treating any underlying problems you may have, as well as looking at why or how you lost a tooth.

Reasons for tooth loss

There are many reasons why you might lose a tooth, such as accident, injury or disease. Gum disease is still the leading cause of adult tooth loss. And it is also partially responsible for dental implant failure. Looking after your oral health is important, as is maintaining as many of your natural teeth as you can. However the team at Curtis Couch D.D.S’s dental practice understand that accidents and injury do occur.

Have you lost a tooth to gum disease?

If gum disease is the reason you’ve lost a tooth, then the gum disease will need to be managed prior to your dental implant treatment. When gum disease progresses to the stage where it causes tooth loss it can become chronic and cannot be cured—this form of gum disease is known as periodontitis.

Perioimplantitis: gum disease for dental implants

Made from biocompatible metal the dental implant is not susceptible to decay like a natural tooth. After all, it’s made from metal. The problem occurs when you don’t take care of your oral health. Looking after a dental implant is just like taking care of a natural tooth, you need to brush and floss your teeth regularly. Perioimplantitis is an infectious disease which causes inflammation and bone loss around a dental implant. It essentially has the same result for a dental implant as gum disease has for a natural tooth.

How to prevent perioimplantitis

At the moment there is still debate as to the exact cause and best treatment method for perioimplantitis. What we can say is that you can lessen your chance of suffering perioimplantitis if you:
  • Brush twice a day
  • Floss at least once a day
  • Consume less sugary food and drink
  • Attend regular check-ups
After you have undergone your dental implant treatment, one of our friendly team will explain in detail the best way to maintain your oral health after dental implant treatment. If you would like to know more about how Curtis Couch D.D.S. and his team can help you, or to book an appointment, please contact us today.