Very few dental implants fail; studies show less than 10 percent. Still, it does happen. Fortunately, it’s easy to improve your chances of implant success. Read our tips on how to avoid dental implant failure. Then call us at 651-370-9498 to schedule a consultation in our Stillwater, MN office. Dr. Reeh will review some of the factors mentioned here to determine if you’re a good candidate for implants.

After investing time and money into receiving dental implants, you want to make sure they will last for many years. They should last for decades with proper care, possibly even for a lifetime. Proper care starts with making sure you avoid problems with implant placement. Here’s how you can do that.

Work With an Experienced Implant Dentist

One of the best ways to avoid dental implant failure is by working with an experienced implant dentist. Many general dentists offer implant services, yet some of them lack the training and technology needed to ensure successful placement.

For the best results, Dr. Reeh plans your implant placement with a 3-D cone beam CT scanner. It produces highly detailed images of your teeth, roots, nerves, bone, and nearby structures. So Dr. Reeh can find the spots in your jaw that are best suited to support dental implants.

In addition, Dr. Reeh is an endodontist. This means he received two years of advanced training in treatment focusing on the interior of the tooth, including implants and root canals. Less than three percent of dentists are endodontists.

Stop Smoking to Avoid Dental Implant Failure

There are lots of reasons to quit smoking. One of them is that it slows your body’s healing process. In the case of dental implants, it restricts blood flow to your gums. Research shows that smokers experience a rate of dental implant failure that is roughly two times greater than non-smokers. If that’s not a good reason to stop smoking, we don’t know what is!

If you can’t give up smoking for good, we recommend that you stop at least one week prior to implant placement and for at least two months after receiving your implants.

Share Your Medical History

Certain medical conditions can complicate dental implant placement, though in most cases they won’t rule it out. To avoid dental implant failure, you need to share a complete medical history with Dr. Reeh. He will be especially interested in hearing about:

  • Diabetes – Diabetes can be problematic if it’s not well managed. Studies show that implant failure is only slightly higher for people with controlled diabetes. So it’s important to work with your physician on keeping your diabetes in check.
  • Osteoporosis – Implants require sufficient bone for support. If you’ve lost bone density, Dr. Reeh may recommend a bone graft to strengthen your jaw before receiving dental implants. You’ll also need to share your medication history, as some medications for osteoporosis may affect your ability to receive implants.
  • Cancer – Some cancer treatments, including radiation to the head, neck or throat, can affect the healing process. This may make it more difficult to receive implants.
  • Depression – Some medications, including antidepressants, can increase dental implant failure.

Address Oral Health Issues

We won’t recommend implants unless you’re in good oral health. Your gum health is especially important. Gum disease, left untreated, can affect the bone in your jaw. This obviously has a negative impact on implant placement. You’ll want to wait a few months after gum disease treatment before receiving implants.

Follow Good Oral Hygiene Practices

You need to be committed to daily brushing and flossing. These practices help prevent decay, gum disease, and other conditions that can affect the longevity of your implants. If you have severe arthritis or other conditions that make it difficult to keep your teeth clean, that can affect your ability to receive implants. We’ll discuss strategies that can help.

Let us help you avoid dental implant failure! Call River Valley Endodontics at 651-370-9498.