Can Dental Implants Break?

A dental implant is no small investment, but it can have a significant positive impact on the future of your health and your self-confidence. We understand that for something so important, you want to make sure that it’s going to last you quite some time. So the big question is, can dental implants break? The simple answer is yes, although it doesn’t happen very often. Read on to learn a little bit more about what can happen and when.

The Possibility of Implant Fracture

In 2015, researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology examined 100 discarded dental implants. They found that dental implants are prone to fractures. Then in 2016, a study published in the Journal of Indian Society of Periodontology determined that the possibility of implant fractures is low but does exist. So, despite being a durable tooth replacement option made from strong materials, dental implants are not invincible.

What Can Break

Each component of a dental implant has the potential to fail, from the crown on top, to the abutment connector piece, to the implant post. Fortunately, you can improve the likelihood of implant success by maintaining superb oral hygiene and taking steps to protect your teeth.

For example, if you’re in the habit of grinding your teeth often, it’s possible you could wear down and damage the ceramic, tooth-like dental crown. Or, you may unintentionally bend or break the abutment with that added pressure. If this is a problem for you, we can fit you with a custom nightguard. We can also discuss relaxation techniques. Wearing an athletic mouthguard while participating in contact sports will also protect your implants from potential trauma. You should avoid chewing on anything that can crack a regular tooth, like jawbreakers, ice chunks, popcorn kernels and other hard foods. Also never use your teeth to open packaging!

What to Do with a Broken Implant

If your implant is broken or damaged, the best thing you can do is make an appointment with us as soon as possible. That way we’ll be able to see what exactly is the issue and provide you with some solutions. Depending on your situation, this could mean replacing the crown on top of the implant, removing the implant and replacing it with a new one, or another procedure. It can be stressful if you have a broken dental implant but our Elevate Smile Design team is here for you.