Dental implants are given to patients as perfect or near perfect replacements with their missing teeth. Rarely are they informed of the risks and counseled around the failure rates. The procedures can have serious consequences and isn't perfect. Implants can and do fail. Patients must be thoroughly informed about the risks and understand that dental implants can fail. With proper planning, implant placement is quite predictable, safe and creates a functional and esthetic result for patients.Dental Implants have come a long since their inception within the 1950's. Dental implant technology is changing in an incredibly fast rate. As each new technology is adapted, dental implant success usually improves. Occasionally a technology comes into the marketplace which is mostly great marketing and either doesn't not increase the success or actually hinders it. Fortunately that doesn't happen frequently.dental newsletterSo what makes dental implants fail ? There are numerous of factors that lead to an increased likelihood of dental implant failure. Unfortunately some of the risks usually are not avoidable and that's why dental implants are about 90-95% successful depending on various studies (the number is actually closer to 95%). As with long bone fractures, despite the best approximation with the fracture and great immobility, some fractures simply aren't healed once the cast is taken away. Either a non-union occurs (meaning no healing ever really started) or a fibrous union occurs (where rather than bone forwards and backwards sides of the fracture you've got scar tissue). Depending on the type where the fracture is and also the patient, non-unions and fibrous unions occur about 5% of times. That is similar to the failure rate of teeth implants.The same principles of healing from a fracture are congruent with the healing of the implant. You need good approximation from the bone towards the implant surface along with a period of immobility to possess a successful osseointegration from the implant. Osseointegration means the bone accepted the implant and incorporates itself around the implant. As you can tell, the failure rate of implants is comparable to the rate of fractures not healing properly. You may get failure from the bone to osseointegrate (similar to non-unions) and as opposed to bone around an implant you have a fibrous encapsulation (just like the fibrous union in bone fractures).However certain issues that increase the chance of implant failure are poorly controlled diabetes, some bone metabolic and congenital disorders, certain medications like glucocorticoids (prednisone), immunosupressants and bisphosphonate medications (Zometa, Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva, etc.) Additionally, smoking and poor hygienic habits can lead to an increased likelihood of implant failure. People who have these disorders and/or on these medications should bring those to the attention of these implant surgeon so a therapy plan can be tailored to suit their needs in addition to their medical conditions.There are many factors that can lead to a boost in dental implant failure. Implants can fail in the beginning in the healing phase or late. Early failures could be defined as at any time before osseointegration occurs (healing phase) or at that time the crown is affixed for the implant. Late failure is defined as any time after the implant using the tooth is under function.