Understanding Why Dental Implants Fail
August 14, 2017
Dental implants are designed to be a permanent solution for the replacement of missing teeth, so it can be a surprise to patients to learn that they do occasionally fail. While failure is rare, it is typically caused by an infestation of the same pathogens that cause periodontal disease. Over time, these pathogens cause inflammation in the tissues surrounding the implants, which can put pressure on them and destabilize them. Since this peri-implantitis can affect the hard and soft tissues both, it can even cause problems for the section of the jaw implants where the implants are anchored.
Preventing Failing Dental Implants
The good news is that like many infections, per-implantitis can be taken care of with the right help. A treatment called LAPIP has been very successful when used to treat the condition, and the right combination of oral health and dental processes should be able to help you put the underlying infection in check. Here is how LAPIP works:
- The inflammation is treated by directly targeting the site of infection.
- Lasers are used to reduce the need for surgical intervention and to minimize tissue lost.
- The infected area is cleaned by Dr. McCawley over the course of a session.
- Sessions are repeated to ensure recovery continues.
Prior to the LAPIP procedure, treating peri-implantitis was mostly a surgical process, but today it is much faster and less invasive.
Preventing Peri-Implantitis
The best way to prevent failing dental implants is through regular oral hygiene and monitoring. If you are looking for a periodontist in Fort Lauderdale, FL who has the toolkit to advise you about how you can keep your dental implants clean and infection-free, call our doctor today. Office associates are ready to help you set up your appointment whether you make contact via phone or email, and the sooner you call the sooner you can get help with your implants.