Dental implants have been a popular choice to replace missing teeth over the last few decades. They have proven to be very effective in most cases and offer numerous benefits. However, not all implants work, with some failing. Now, a research team has sought to find out the risk factors involved in implant failure.
Dental implants have had a huge impact on the field of oral health in recent decades. They have provided millions of people with a replacement for a missing tooth.
Implants are artificial teeth that look and act like a real tooth. They are very effective, with past research underlining their durability and life-like nature.
However, dental implants do have the potential to fail. Now, new research has looked at what the most common risk factors are in the failure of dental implants [1].
About dental implants
Dental implants are artificial teeth. They are used to replace missing teeth, which are typically lost due to advanced tooth decay, severe gum disease, or trauma.
They are a titanium or ceramic post that is inserted into the jawbone. Therefore, as well as looking like a tooth, they also integrate well with the teeth around them – making them act like a proper tooth too.
Research underlines the effectiveness of dental implants. In fact, recent research found that implants inserted in the 1970s had a 95.6% survival rate after 40 years [2]!
Other research has confirmed the effectiveness of dental implants, with findings showing that implants can enhance chewing capabilities, improve the look of teeth, and improve self-esteem [3].
Clearly, there are a lot of benefits to implants. However, not all implants prove effective. Due to various reasons, implants can sometimes fail to work. Now, a team of researchers have sought to find out the main reasons why this may happen.
The Research
The research was carried out by a team of Chinese researchers. Their findings have been published in the Biomolecules & Biomedicine journal [1].
In most cases, dental implants work well. The success levels have improved over time due to advancements in materials and surgical techniques.
However, there are some factors that can inhibit success. Such factors can result in harmful complications like infections and bone loss occurring.
The research team completed an analysis of 300 patients that were receiving implants. These 300 patients were surveyed after two years, with the team looking to find out what had affected their success or failure [1].
Overall, the implant failure rate was 5.67% over the two-year period [1]. While this means approximately 19 out of every 20 implants were intact after two years, this number still means that many implants failed.
The study found that patients who smoked following implant placement had a higher risk of failure [1]. Smoking reduces blood flow and slows down healing, which results in poor bone integration. Therefore, this can make an implant fail to integrate in the mouth.
Moreover, poor oral hygiene affected failure. The researchers found that those who didn’t brush their teeth enough, or didn’t floss, had a higher chance of failure [1].
Interestingly, the researchers found that implants placed in the front of the mouth had a higher failure rate than those in the back [1].
The researchers suggested that this was due to the difference in biting force, with the back teeth more resilient in force compared to front teeth.
Other factors involved in implant failure were inadequate bone volume, insufficient oral mucosa levels, and poor salivary flow [1].
As seen, there are a number of potential risk factors for implant failure. The majority of people managed to avoid such pitfalls though.
Summary
It should be remembered that most cases were successful. This research adds further confirmation of the effectiveness of dental implants.
However, it also shows that there are many risk factors involved. It is important for patients to look after their implant – just as they would with any other tooth.
Knowing about the various factors involved in implant success and failure can be very helpful. It can provide dentists with knowledge that can be passed onto patients in order to maximize the chances of implant success.
Lead researcher Dr. Dake Linghu commented on the findings. He said that the findings “highlight the critical role of patient habits in determining implant success” [4].
Continuing, Linghu says that “by addressing these factors early, we can significantly reduce the risk of failure” [4].
Linghu has suggested that the findings emphasize the importance of personalized treatment planning. Furthermore, he says that implants placed in the front require enhanced attention in order to improve their success rate [4].
These findings are very helpful. A combination of enhanced awareness of risk factors between dentists and patients should result in improved rates of success in implants. This results in better treatment outcomes and happier patients!
Thinking points…
[1] The risk factors outlined for dental implants above are also important for our overall oral health. For example, smoking, poor oral hygiene, and reduced salivary flow not only impact implants, but also our teeth. Therefore, it is very important to have excellent oral hygiene. Something we always recommend is to attend a dental check-up at least once every six months, as this will allow a dentist to examine your oral health in detail. We recommend booking an appointment now!
[2] We mentioned earlier about how effective dental implants can be! If you are someone with a tooth missing, an implant could be perfect for you. Implants fit easily, look and act natural, and can improve your self-esteem. Additionally, at our Calgary dental clinic Taradale Dental, we provide a free consultation to discuss dental implant options. We would love to speak to you soon, you can find out more about us at our website – https://taradaledental.ca/!
What we offer at Taradale Dental
Taradale Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. At our Calgary dental clinic, we provide a range of services for our patients.
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary dental clinic at least twice per year for a regular dental check-up. At these check-ups, we provide a comprehensive review of a patient’s oral health. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For example, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To strengthen your oral health, we recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing regularly.
Here at Taradale Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, teeth whitening and Invisalign™! Our patients find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
Moreover, the fees of our treatments at our Calgary dental clinic Taradale Dental are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide. This ensures transparent and fair pricing, with no hidden costs.
We hope to see you soon at our Taradale Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://taradaledental.ca/!
References
[1] Linghu, D., Zhang, D., & Liu, M. (2025). Predictors of implant failure: A comprehensive analysis of risk factors in oral implant restoration for patients with partial defects of dentition. Biomolecules & Biomedicine. (Advance Print). DOI: https://doi.org/10.17305/bb.2024.11668.
[2] Barkarmo, S., & Kowar, J. (2025). Outcome of Single Dental Implants Over 38–40 Years: A Long-Term Follow-Up Study. Clinical Implant Dentistry and Related Research. 27 (1): e13443. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cid.13443.
[3] Moroianu, M., Moroianu, L. A., Curis, C., Matei, M. N., Bica, C., & Hainarosie, R. (2024). The Effect of Mental Health Conditions on Dental Implants. Romanian Journal of Military Medicine. p313-323. DOI: https://revistamedicinamilitara.ro/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/RJMM-vol-CXXVII-nr-4-din-2024-part-10.pdf.
[4] Association of Basic Medical Sciences of FBIH. (2025). Understanding dental implant failure: Key risk factors and future directions. Available: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-03-dental-implant-failure-key-factors.html. Last accessed: 22nd March 2025.
