Dental implants constitute a sessile, utterly long-lasting form of artifical teeth. However, in some cases, an implant can end up being loose and wiggling. In these cases, the problem usually arises a couple of months following the operation. For the most part, it is not possible to pinpoint why the implantation was not successful, as a combination of multiple different factors tends to be most likely.
For instance, it is possible that too much pressure was exercised or an implant was inserted at the wrong position or at a skewed angle. For this reason, you need to be aware of the importance of putting yourself in skilled hands before the operation and of developing trust in your treating physician! Make sure that the practice has modern diagnostic tools at its disposal, i.e. ask about a digital volume tomograph!
However, it is also possible that the cause for failure is to be sought elsewhere. For instance, there may be a pre-existing condition having an unfavorable effect on the healing process. Heart conditions, bleeding tendencies, or bone and metabolic diseases such as diabetes are said to constitute risk factors in the course of an implantation. Similarly, a weakened immune system will not have a positive impact on the healing process. Another possible scenario is that the organism repels the foreign matter. However, at least as far as the use of titanium is concerned, the latest academic findings do not suggest any human allergic reactions. Also, it is possible that the implant was strained prematurely: After the operation, patients should refrain from biting down on what they consume at full chewing force for approx. 3 to 6 months. When in a healthy condition, the jaw is burdened by a force of up to 400kg – a newly inserted implant is incapable of coping with such force. Insufficient oral hygiene can also lead to an imperfect healing process.
In the rare cases in which an implant actually becomes loose, it needs to be removed completely and may possibly be replaced by an implant with a larger diameter. If the circumstances require, bone augmentation may need to be performed (once again).