Dental implants are used to replace lost teeth. To be a good candidate for a dental implant, you must have enough jawbone at the implant site to support the installation of the implant screw.

The metal screw, which is usually made of titanium, is non-reactive and less likely to cause an allergic reaction or negative immune response in the patient. Still, a dental implant can fail. Here are a few avoidable reasons that a dental implant may be unsuccessful:

Imbalanced Crown

A crown is connected to a dental implant by an abutment. When the crown is placed on a dental implant, the dentist may ask the patient repeatedly about the comfort level and fit of the crown in the mouth. Based on the patient's responses, the crown can be adjusted to ensure that the fit of the crown is balanced. If the crown is not properly positioned, the pressure on the implant screw can be uneven and may cause the implant to eventually shift or become loose inside the jawbone.

It is important to share any concerns about the fit your dental crown with your dentist as soon as possible.

Uncontrolled Type II Diabetes

Type II diabetics who do not control their blood sugar properly are more likely to have a failed implant. However, the implant success rate of people with type II diabetes who maintain healthy blood sugar levels is about the same as it is for people without diabetes.

Bruxism

Bruxism is the grinding of teeth that can occur at night when a patient sleeps. This grinding places undue pressure on an implant and can cause it to break or shift. However, an appropriate mouthguard can be sued to alleviate the damaging pressure.

Smoking

Smokers have a higher rate of implant failure than nonsmokers. If you are planning to have a dental implant installed, stop smoking months before the scheduled implantation. Smokers sometimes experience slower rates of healing and impaired oxygen levels at a wound site. 

Infection

Although some infections may be inevitable, it is important to take the antibiotics prescribed by your dentist as your implantation site heals. An infection can inhibit osseointegration, which is the fusion of the implant screw with the jaw bone.

A dental implant can fail for a variety of reasons. However, some implantation problems are avoidable. Schedule a consultation with your dentist to discuss measures you can take to improve the chances of a successful implant.