Failing, Missing, or Knocked Out Teeth

Losing or damaging a tooth can impact your confidence, comfort, and overall oral health. Whether the issue stems from injury, decay, or advanced gum disease, prompt treatment helps prevent bone loss, shifting teeth, and bite problems. Treatments such as dental implants, bridges, or dentures can restore both function and appearance, giving you back a strong, natural-looking smile.

A failing, missing, or knocked-out tooth refers to a dental condition where a tooth becomes dislodged, either partially or completely, from its socket.

• Failing Tooth - This typically refers to a tooth that is in the process of deteriorating or experiencing issues such as decay, infection, or has structural damage. The tooth might not necessarily be completely dislodged but has started to severely decay or become loose.
• Missing Tooth - A missing tooth is where a tooth is entirely absent from its socket. This could be due to various medical and dental conditions, trauma, extraction, or congenital absence, and where the tooth was not immediately replaced.
• Knocked-Out Tooth - Also known as an avulsed tooth, this occurs when a tooth is completely displaced from its socket due to trauma or injury. This can happen due to accidents, sports injuries, or other forceful impacts to the mouth.

• Failing Tooth: If you suspect a tooth is failing, schedule a visit right away. Keep the area clean with gentle brushing and rinsing, avoid chewing on that side, and follow your dentist’s recommendations to prevent further damage.
• Missing Tooth: If a tooth is lost or extracted, it’s important to replace it as soon as possible to avoid shifting teeth and jawbone loss. Options like implants, bridges, or dentures can restore your function and appearance.
• Knocked-Out Tooth: Time is critical. Handle the tooth by the crown (not the root), rinse gently in milk or saline if dirty, and attempt to place it back in the socket if possible. If not, keep it moist in milk and seek immediate emergency care.

Prompt professional treatment can make the difference between saving a tooth and needing replacement.

Dental implant failure refers to a condition where a dental implant does not successfully fulfill its intended function. This failure can occur at different stages, including during the initial healing period after implant placement or even years after the successful integration of the implant. There are two primary categories of dental implant failure:

• Early Implant Failure - This occurs within a few months after the implant placement and before the implant has fully integrated with the jawbone (osseointegration). Causes of early failure may include inadequate bone integration, infection, implant mobility, or implant fracture.
• Late Implant Failure - This occurs months or years after successful implantation and osseointegration. Late failure may result from a variety of factors, such as peri-implantitis (inflammation around the implant), bone loss around the implant site, mechanical issues such as abutment or prosthetic complications, or even systemic health issues such as diabetes or autoimmune diseases.