When an Implant Fails or an Older One Needs Revision

A meaningful share of the calls we take are not from people planning treatment. They are from people who already have an implant and something is wrong with it, or who were told years ago that it was done and now it is not behaving.

What people notice first

Discomfort that does not settle. Gum that stays swollen or bleeds around the implant. Something that feels loose, or a crown that keeps coming off. A bad taste or odor that will not clear. None of these tells you what is happening — some involve the implant itself, some involve only the restoration on top, and some are gum problems around it. They are all reasons to be seen rather than to wait.

Loose crown is not the same as loose implant

A restoration coming loose from the implant is a different situation from the implant itself moving in the bone. They can feel similar to you and they are not similar clinically. That distinction is one of the first things an exam sorts out.

Older implants and revision

Implants placed a long time ago may use components that a current office does not stock, and identifying what is in your mouth can take imaging and some work. If you have any paperwork from the original treatment, bring it. If you do not, say so — it is a normal situation and not an obstacle.

What to ask about a revision

Ask what specifically is failing and how they know. Ask what the options are, including doing nothing for now. Ask whether the site can take a new implant and what would have to happen first. Ask who is responsible for the cost if the original work was done at that same practice — and expect a straight answer.

Going back or going elsewhere

You can go back to the original office and you can also get an outside opinion. Both are reasonable. If you want to be seen somewhere else, call us and tell us it is an existing implant with a problem, and we will route you to a practice that takes those cases.

Request a Referral