Dental implants can fail for a variety of reasons. If you’ve experienced dental implant failure, you may be wondering who is responsible.
While some implants can fail for reasons outside of your dentist’s control, others can be the result of avoidable mistakes or substandard dental treatment. In this blog, we will explain when dental implant failure can amount to dental negligence and advise on the next steps you should take.
Think your failed dental implant was a result of dental negligence? You may be entitled to compensation. Start your claim online today.
Who is responsible for dental implant failure?
Determining who is responsible for dental implant failure heavily depends on the circumstances surrounding your treatment. As specialist dental negligence solicitors, we assess cases daily where dental implant failure could and should have been entirely avoidable.
When patient-related factors may contribute to dental implant failure:
- Poor oral hygiene following treatment: Poor oral hygiene can affect healing and increase your risk of complications. Brushing your teeth and gums twice a day is important for your overall dental health and helps your mouth and gums to heal after a dental implant procedure.
- Aftercare advice & instructions: Your dentist should give you aftercare instructions to help your dental implants heal properly. It is your responsibility to follow this aftercare advice, as if you don’t, this can impact your healing.
- You’re a smoker: Smoking can hinder the dental implant healing process and may cause further damage to your teeth and gums. You should disclose your smoking habits to your dentist before any treatment or procedure – failure to do so may mean you are responsible for failed implants.
You have a medical condition that you did not disclose to your dentist: Some medical conditions, particularly those that affect your immune system, can prevent your dental implants from healing properly. It’s your responsibility to disclose any medical conditions to your dentist so they can determine whether you’re suitable for implants.
It’s important to note that responsibility may still sit with your dentist if proper standards of care were not met before, during or after your dental implant treatment.
When your dentist may be responsible for dental implant failure:
- Your dentist failed to diagnose an existing condition: If your dentist failed to notice an underlying condition that might have made you unsuitable for dental implants (such as gum disease), they may be responsible for the failure of your implants.
- Your dentist did not place the implants correctly: Incorrect or careless placement of the implants can lead to unnecessary pain and damage to your gums or teeth.
- Your dentist did not sterilise their equipment properly: Failure to follow proper sterilisation procedures can lead to infection and your body rejecting the dental implants.
Your dentist used excessive force during the procedure: This can cause damage to your teeth and gums, and may even result in permanent nerve damage.
If you think substandard care from your dentist was the cause of your dental implant failure, and you experienced pain, suffering, and/or financial losses as a result of the negligent treatment, then you may be eligible to make a claim for compensation.
Get in touch with the Dental Law Partnership to find out whether you have a valid claim.
What should I do if I think my dental implant has failed?
If you think your dental implant has failed, the first thing you should do is make a follow-up appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. Common signs of dental implant failure include:
- Swelling
- Severe pain
- Difficulty chewing or biting
- Gums receding around the implant
- Implant being loose or wobbly
- Persistent bad breath
Your dentist will be able to diagnose the problem and provide a course of action. In most cases, an implant can be redone if it fails, although additional treatment may be needed to ensure it doesn’t fail again.
If you believe negligent treatment from your dentist is the reason your implant has failed, you may be eligible to make a dental negligence claim.
The Dental Law Partnership can help you establish whether you have a valid claim – contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation.
Curious about how much compensation you could receive for a successful claim? Use our free compensation calculator for an estimate.