Factors That Affect Dental Implant Success

Many people are anxious to know the success rate of dental implants before they undergo the procedure. This article discusses some of the factors that may influence how successful dental implants will be for you.

Your General Health Status

The success of having dental implants inserted in your mouth may be affected by the health status of the rest of your body. For instance, people who have a compromised immune system may easily develop dental diseases that may cause the implants to fail. An example of a dental disease that can cause implant failure is peri-implantitis. This disease can cause the bone tissue around the implants to erode so much that that the implants will no longer be firm in your mouth. To prevent such failures, dental surgeons first evaluate a patient in order to identify any general health factors that may hinder the success of dental implantation. The dentist or dental surgeon will then find a way around the health challenge that you have before the dental implants are inserted. For instance, you may be advised to stop smoking prior to undergoing dental implant surgery.

Site-specific Issues

Local factors at the site where dental implants have been placed can also affect the success of dental implants. For instance, someone with low bone quantity and quality may experience implant failure. This is because the limited bone quantity at the placement site may hinder the long-term stability of the implant. Over time, the unstable implant may become looser until the only option left will be to remove it. Another example of a site-specific issue that may affect the success of dental implant placement is excessive stress placed on an implant by individuals who clench their teeth. Dental surgeons usually design a treatment plan that will implement solutions to the site-specific issues that a patient faces. For instance, bone-grafting procedures can be performed to improve bone quality or quantity at a proposed implant site.

Maintenance Issues

How you maintain and take care of your oral hygiene once dental implants have been inserted into your mouth can also affect the success of the dental implants. For instance, someone who ignores to brush and floss regularly may compromise his or her dental implants. This is because the implants will fail when that person develops periodontal diseases that destroy the tissues (bone and gum) that surround the implants. It is therefore very important to adhere to all the care and maintenance advice given by your dentist so that your dental implants do not fail.

As you can see, many of the issues that may lower the success rate of dental implants depend on the specific issues an individual patient has. It is advisable that you are truthful as you talk to your dentist or a dental surgeon prior to dental implant surgery. That candid discussion will help the professionals to do their best to address any factors that may compromise the success of your dental implants.


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