Implants fail far more often years after successful placement than during healing, and the cause is usually the tissue around the implant rather than the implant itself. Caught early, much of it is treatable. An implant that becomes loose, painful or surrounded by inflamed gum needs prompt evaluation, since early inflammation can often be treated by cleaning and better home care while advanced bone loss may require removing and later replacing the implant once the site has healed.
Situations that lead to failing or failed dental implant
- Bleeding or pus around an implant
- An implant that feels loose or moves
- Gum receding around an implant
- A crown or bridge on an implant that keeps coming loose
- Pain or pressure around an implant site
- An implant placed elsewhere that you are concerned about
What the plan may involve
- Assessment of the tissue and bone around the implant
- Treating peri-implant inflammation before it costs the implant
- Replacing a loose screw, abutment or restoration
- Removing a failed implant and allowing the site to heal
- Grafting and replacing the implant in a second phase
Common questions
Failing or Failed Dental Implant: questions people ask
Can a failing implant be saved?
Often yes, if inflammation around it is caught before significant bone is lost. That is precisely why bleeding around an implant should be reported rather than ignored.
Why did my implant fail?
Most late failures relate to inflammation in the surrounding tissue. Smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, cleaning difficulty and excessive bite forces all contribute. An assessment can usually identify the main factor.
Can it be replaced?
Frequently, though the site usually needs to heal first and sometimes grafting. Understanding why the first one failed matters, or the replacement risks the same outcome.
The implant was placed elsewhere: will a practice still see me?
Yes. Bring any records or imaging you have. Components differ between systems, so identifying the system used helps considerably.
What are the warning signs of a failing implant?
Bleeding or pus around the implant. An implant that feels loose or moves. Gum receding around it. A crown or bridge on the implant that keeps coming loose. Pain or pressure around the implant site. Implants fail far more often years after placement than during healing. The cause is usually the tissue around the implant.
What can be done about a failing implant?
The team assesses the tissue and bone around it. Peri-implant inflammation is treated before it costs the implant. A loose screw, abutment or restoration can be replaced. A failed implant is removed and the site heals. Grafting and a replacement implant can follow in a second phase. Caught early, much of it is treatable.