You went through a dental implant procedure, followed instructions, and expected a permanent result, and now something is wrong. Whether the implant feels loose, painful, or has already been removed, you deserve answers about what happened and what your options are.
Dr. Mohamed El-Ounsi evaluates and treats patients dealing with failed dental implants in Deer Park. As a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon and Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Dr. El-Ounsi has the training to identify what went wrong, address any underlying issues, and determine whether re-implantation is a viable path forward for you.
Why Do Dental Implants Fail?
Implant failure is not a single event with a single cause. Research published in the National Institutes of Health’s PMC database found that lack of osseointegration and absence of primary stability were the most common reasons implants are removed, followed by peri-implantitis, infection, and procedural complications. In plain terms, a failed implant usually comes down to the bone, the surrounding tissue, or the surgical approach.
Patient-Related Factors
Certain health and lifestyle factors increase the risk of implant failure. Uncontrolled diabetes, smoking, osteoporosis, and a history of radiation therapy to the jaw are among the most well-documented contributors. These conditions affect how well bone integrates with the implant, which determines whether the fixture holds over time. If these factors were not fully evaluated before your original procedure, they may be central to what happened.
Surgical and Placement Factors
Implant failure is also tied to how the procedure was performed. Poor implant positioning, inadequate bone volume at the placement site, insufficient stabilization at the time of surgery, and skipped preparatory steps like bone grafting can all compromise long-term outcomes. These are not failures of the implant itself; they are failures of the planning and execution process.
What to Expect During a Failed Implant Evaluation
When you come in for a consultation, we conduct a comprehensive review that includes clinical examination, updated imaging, and a full medical and dental history. The goal is to understand the full picture: the condition of the bone, the status of the surrounding tissue, the circumstances of the original placement, and whether any systemic factors contributed.
From there, we map out a treatment path. In some cases, the failed implant needs to be removed first, and healing time is required before anything else can be done. In other cases, the site is ready for retreatment relatively quickly. We will always be direct with you about what is realistic and what the timeline looks like.
Retreatment Options After Implant Failure
Not every failed implant case ends the same way. Some patients are strong candidates for re-implantation after the site heals; others require additional preparatory procedures first. Here is what retreatment may involve:
- Bone grafting: If the failed implant caused bone loss at the site, grafting may be needed to rebuild adequate volume before a new implant can be placed.
- Treatment for peri-implantitis: If infection or inflammation in the tissue was a contributing factor, it needs to be fully resolved before retreatment.
- Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) therapy: We use platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) technology to support tissue healing and promote bone regeneration at the implant site.
- Same-day placement: In carefully selected cases where bone quality and volume are sufficient, same-day implant placement after extraction or removal may be an option.
The right plan depends entirely on your individual anatomy, health history, and the condition of the surgical site.
Choose Precision OMF Surgery for Failed Implant Treatment in Deer Park, NY
Dr. Mohamed El-Ounsi completed his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at NYU Langone/Bellevue, where he served as Chief Resident. He holds dual board certification through the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, is a Fellow of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, and is trained in BLS, ACLS, and PALS. His clinical focus includes implant surgery and IV sedation, and he brings a detailed, patient-first approach to every retreatment case.
If a previous implant has failed and you are not sure what to do next, we are here to help you figure it out. We work with patients across Deer Park and the surrounding Long Island communities to rebuild their confidence in a process that did not go as planned. To schedule a consultation, contact our office today.