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FrançaisDental Implant Failure: Signs, Causes and What to Do
Medically reviewed by Dt. Şerife Kalken, dentist and founder · October 2026
How Often
Uncommon, but Not Impossible
Dental implants are one of the most predictable treatments in dentistry. A 2019 systematic review of 18 prospective studies estimated that about 96% of implants are still in place after ten years. When the authors corrected for patients who dropped out of the studies, the estimate fell to about 93%, and it was lower again in patients aged 65 and over.
Put the other way round: somewhere between roughly 1 in 25 and 1 in 15 implants is lost within ten years. Most of those losses are not random. They follow recognisable warning signs and known risk factors, and many problems around implants can be treated before the implant itself is lost.
Early or Late
Two Different Kinds of Failure
Early failure
Weeks to months after placement
- What happens
- The bone never fuses with the implant surface, so the implant stays mobile.
- Common causes
- Infection during healing, an implant that was not stable enough when placed, too much load too early, smoking, and poorly controlled diabetes.
Late failure
Years after the tooth is fitted
- What happens
- An implant that was successful slowly loses bone around it until it becomes loose.
- Common causes
- Peri-implantitis (gum disease around the implant), heavy grinding or clenching, missed check-ups and plaque left around the implant for years.
Not every implant problem is a failure. A crown that comes loose usually means a loosened screw, which is a quick fix. Bleeding gums around an implant without bone loss (peri-implant mucositis) is reversible. A 2015 systematic review estimated that mucositis affects around 43% of implant patients and peri-implantitis around 22%, which is why regular cleaning around implants matters as much as it does around natural teeth.
Warning Signs
Signs That Need a Dentist
- Bleeding when you brush around the implant, or gum that looks red and puffy.
- Pus, a bad taste or a bad smell coming from around the implant.
- Pain when you bite, especially if it starts months or years after the implant was fine.
- The crown feels loose or clicks. Often the screw, but it needs checking promptly.
- The gum shrinks back so that metal becomes visible at the gum line.
- The implant itself moves. A truly mobile implant has usually lost its bond with the bone.
In the first weeks after surgery, some soreness and swelling is normal and peaks around the second or third day. Pain that keeps increasing after that, a fever, or swelling that returns after settling is not normal and should be checked the same day.
What Can Be Done
From a Loose Screw to a Lost Implant
| Problem | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Loose crown or screw | The screw is tightened or replaced and the bite checked; usually one short visit |
| Chipped or broken crown | The crown is repaired or remade; the implant underneath is not affected |
| Peri-implant mucositis | Professional cleaning around the implant and better cleaning at home; reversible |
| Peri-implantitis | Deep cleaning of the implant surface, sometimes surgery to clean and reshape the bone; the earlier, the better the outlook |
| Implant that never integrated or has lost its bone | The implant is removed, the site heals, sometimes with a bone graft, and a new implant is usually possible later |
Whoever treats the problem needs to know which implant system you have. That is why every implant patient should have the brand, size and batch number in writing. Our page on getting help from a dentist at home explains what to bring.
Prevention
Lowering the Risk, Before and After
Plan on a 3D scan
A CBCT scan shows the height and width of the bone and the position of nerves and sinuses, so the implant is placed where it can be stable.
Treat gum disease first
Active gum disease and a history of periodontitis raise the risk around implants. It is treated before implants are placed.
Stop or cut down smoking
Smoking is one of the most consistent risk factors for both early and late implant loss.
Clean around the implant every day
Brushing plus interdental brushes or a water flosser; plaque around an implant behaves much like plaque around a tooth.
Keep the check-ups
Regular checks and professional cleaning catch mucositis while it is still reversible. If you grind your teeth, a night guard protects the implant from overload.
At Betadent the implant itself carries a lifetime guarantee; the details, including what is and is not covered, are on our guarantee page.
- Howe MS, Keys W, Richards D. Long-term (10-year) dental implant survival: a systematic review and sensitivity meta-analysis. J Dent. 2019;84:9–21.
- Derks J, Tomasi C. Peri-implant health and disease. A systematic review of current epidemiology. J Clin Periodontol. 2015;42 Suppl 16:S158–S171.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
- How common is dental implant failure?
Uncommon. A 2019 systematic review estimated ten-year implant survival at about 96%, or about 93% after correcting for patients lost to follow-up. Risk is higher in smokers, people with a history of gum disease and, in that review, patients aged 65 and over.
- What are the signs of a failing implant?
Bleeding or swelling around the implant, pus or a bad taste, pain when biting, gum shrinking back to show metal, and an implant or crown that feels loose. Any of these should be checked by a dentist promptly.
- Can a failed implant be replaced?
Usually, yes. The implant is removed, the site is allowed to heal, sometimes with a bone graft, and a new implant is placed later. The waiting time depends on how much bone has been lost.
- Is a loose implant crown the same as a failed implant?
No. A loose crown is most often a loosened screw, which is a simple repair. A failed implant is one that has lost its bond with the bone and moves itself.
- What is peri-implantitis?
Gum disease around an implant that causes bone loss. It is treated with deep cleaning and sometimes surgery, and is best prevented with daily cleaning and regular professional check-ups.
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