Something Is Wrong With My Implant

My implant has failed: why does it happen, and what is done next?

Losing an implant early and losing one years later are not the same thing: the causes differ, and so does what comes after

Losing an implant is something most patients who go through it never tell anyone about, and clinics rarely write about it either. Yet the reasons it happens are largely known and, more importantly, losing an implant is not the end of treatment. On this page we explain the separate causes of early and late loss, what having the implant removed involves and whether a new implant can be placed in the same area.

Short answer

Implants are lost at two different times, for two different sets of reasons. Early loss happens before osseointegration has taken place; the main causes include insufficient initial anchorage, the bone overheating during surgery, infection, loading the implant too early, smoking and uncontrolled systemic disease. Late loss comes years later and is usually caused by inflammation around the implant (peri-implantitis) or an error in load distribution. In most cases a new implant can be placed in the same area.

Early loss: Before osseointegration; the first weeks and months
Late loss: Years later; inflammation or overloading
Strongest risk factor: Smoking and uncontrolled blood sugar
Afterwards: A new implant is possible in most cases

Medically reviewed by Bilge Ilgın, Dentist · ImplantologyLast reviewed 2026-09-06

Why an implant fails

Whether an implant holds depends on two separate things. The first is the mechanical anchorage achieved on the day it is placed: how tightly the implant sits in the bone. The second is the biological bond that forms over time: bone cells attaching to the implant surface. Implant loss falls into two different pictures depending on which of these has failed, and the causes of the two are not alike.

Early loss happens before osseointegration has taken place. Its known causes are: failing to achieve enough initial anchorage during placement, the bone overheating while the site is being prepared, an infection already present in the area, loading the implant before it is able to carry the load, and factors that interfere with healing. At the top of this last group are smoking and diabetes that is not under control.

Late loss is a completely different story. An implant that has worked without problems for years is lost either because the tissue around it becomes inflamed or because the load on it exceeds what it can carry. The first is peri-implantitis, which progresses silently; the second comes from an error in the bite, grinding your teeth at night (bruxism), or a load-bearing structure that was not strong enough from the start. The two are sometimes present together and speed each other up.

Let us be clear about this: losing an implant is not always someone's fault. Of two implants placed with the same plan, one may fail, and no visible reason may be found. But most of the causes fall under known, preventable headings. That is why, when an implant is lost, the first question should be 'why'; a second attempt made without finding the cause runs the risk of repeating the same result.

Removing the implant is the part patients fear most and, in reality, the part they should fear least. An implant that has lost its anchorage is no longer held by the bone; removing it is usually easier than placing it, and it is done under local anaesthetic. What makes it harder is when part of the implant is still integrated with the bone; it then has to be freed from the surrounding bone in a controlled way.

As for what comes next: in most cases a new implant can be placed in the same area. What decides it is the bone left after removal. If there is enough bone, the area is left to heal and a new implant is placed. If the bone loss is advanced, two routes are discussed: adding bone, or taking the anchorage from the deep cortical and basal layer that does not shrink. The second is the route that makes it possible to move forward in the same area without a graft and months of waiting.

Who can have a new implant

A second attempt is possible in most cases, but not unconditionally. The distinction below sets out the headings of the assessment made after removal.

The tooth can be saved

If the cause of the loss has been found and correctedIf the cause was load distribution, the load-bearing structure is rebuilt; if it was inflammation, the care routine and the design are changed; if it was smoking or blood sugar, these are addressed before treatment. In an area where the cause has been corrected, a second attempt has a better chance than the first.
If enough bone is left after removalIf the bone volume has been preserved, the area is left to heal and a new implant is placed in the same spot. This is the picture in most early losses: because the implant had not yet integrated, it has not damaged the bone around it.
If the bone has shrunk but the deep layer is still thereEven if the alveolar bone at the top has shrunk, the hard cortical and basal layer deep in the jaw stays in place. When the anchorage is taken from there, a new plan can be drawn up without adding bone or waiting for months.
If a single implant is lost in a plan based on load sharingIn a structure built on many implants, losing one support does not put the bridge out of action. If the remaining supports are enough, the bridgework can be adapted and kept in use, and the area of the loss is assessed separately.

Saving it is unlikely to hold

If a second attempt is made without correcting the causeA second implant placed with the same bite error, the same care routine and the same smoking habit follows the same path as the first. Rushing in this situation means a second loss.
If there is still an active infection in the areaAn implant placed before the infection has been treated sits on an inflamed foundation. The area is cleaned first and left to heal; you should be told about this time as part of the plan from the outset.
If a systemic condition is not under controlDiabetes with blood sugar that has not been stabilised, and other conditions that interfere with healing, are the biggest risk to a second attempt too. Waiting until your readings are under control is not cancelling the treatment; it is protecting its chances of success.
If you are still smokingSmoking is one of the strongest known modifiable risk factors for implant loss. Stopping should be discussed before a second attempt; it is the most effective step within your own control.

What happens, step by step, when an implant is lost

The sequence below is built on not acting before the cause has been found. A plan that skips steps runs the risk of repeating the same result.

1
Confirming the situation
The bridgework is removed and the implant is checked to see whether it really is moving in the bone. The bone level is checked on an X-ray. If the movement is coming from the bridgework, the implant has not been lost and the picture changes completely.
2
Investigating the cause
When was it placed, when was it loaded, is there a problem with the bite, are there signs of inflammation, and what about smoking and blood sugar? These questions directly shape the plan for a second attempt.
3
Removing the implant
This is done under local anaesthetic. Removing an implant that has lost its anchorage is usually easier than placing it. If part of it is still integrated, it is freed from the surrounding bone in a controlled way; the aim is to preserve as much of that bone as possible.
4
Cleaning the area and healing
Any inflamed tissue is cleaned away. The area is given time to heal; how long depends on the condition of the bone. In the meantime you manage with a temporary solution.
5
Drawing up the new plan
After healing, the remaining bone is assessed, and the position and length of the new implant, and which layer it will take its anchorage from, are decided. If the cause was load distribution, the whole load-bearing structure is redesigned.
6
Close follow-up
With a second attempt, check-ups are scheduled more often. The aim is to see early whether the cause of the first loss is coming back. This follow-up is an integral part of the plan, not an extra service.

The routes after an implant is lost

A second implant is not the only option. Depending on the area and the overall plan, these are the routes discussed.

A new implant in the same area

The most common route. If there is enough bone, the implant is placed after healing. If the cause has been corrected, a second attempt usually goes well.

Anchorage from a different area

If there is not enough bone where the implant was lost, an implant can be placed in the neighbouring area, at a different angle and in a deeper layer. The same bridge is then carried from the places where the bone is still sound.

Adding bone

If the loss has left a large bone defect, a graft may come into consideration. It adds noticeably to the time and the cost; if the anchorage can be taken from the deep layer, it is not needed in most cases.

Keeping the bridge on the remaining implants

In a structure based on load sharing, losing one support may not put the bridge out of action. If the number and spread of the remaining implants are enough, the bridgework is adapted.

Rebuilding the plan completely

In a mouth where implants have been lost one after another, the load-bearing structure needs to be designed again from scratch rather than replacing implants one by one. The problem here lies not in the implants but in the plan itself.

What you should know

The points below cover both what happens during this process and what helps stop it happening again.

A second attempt made without finding the cause

A new implant placed without investigating why the first was lost goes into the same conditions. The causes most often overlooked are a bite error and continued smoking. A second loss costs more than the first, because the bone has been put under strain once again.

Keeping an implant that has already failed

An implant that moves puts strain on the bone around it and makes the area less suitable for a second attempt. Delaying removal means using up bone that will be needed later.

Warning signs of early loss

Pain that does not ease during the healing period, increasing swelling, a bad taste and pus coming from the area. These fall outside normal healing and should be reported without delay; acting early sometimes saves the implant.

Not discussing the guarantee at the outset

It is the first thing people ask about when an implant is lost, and they find out at the worst possible time. What is covered, and whether missing check-ups affects the cover, should be in writing before treatment.

What happens after removal

This is how things go for most patients. The timings can vary depending on the condition of the bone.

The first few days
After removal there is mild pain and swelling in the area; for most patients this is milder than what they experienced when the implant was placed. It is managed with cold compresses and the medication you are given. Avoid putting pressure on the area.
The first weeks
The gum closes over and the area rests. During this time you manage with a temporary solution. How healing is progressing is assessed at a check-up; it would not be right to give a firm timetable early on.
Reassessment
The remaining bone is imaged and it is decided whether a new plan is possible. At this stage the cause is also reviewed again: has it been corrected, or is it still there?
The second attempt and follow-up
Once the new implant is placed, check-ups are scheduled more often. Measurements are recorded and the bone level is compared regularly. This routine is the most effective way to prevent a second loss.

Message us right away if

The pain is getting worse instead of better during healing. The expected course is for pain to ease after the first few days. Pain that increases can be a sign of early loss or infection and should be assessed without delay.
Pus or a bad taste is coming from the area. This falls outside normal healing. It needs to be seen within the same week; if it is left, the surrounding bone is affected too.
You can feel movement in the implant. Movement felt during the healing period can be a sign that anchorage has not formed. Seen early, something can be done in some cases; if it is left, there are no options left.
You have a fever or spreading swelling. This shows that the infection is spreading into the soft tissue. Call your clinic the same day; if you are struggling to swallow, go straight to A&E.

The cost of treating it again

In this situation the cost is made up of different items from the first treatment, and it depends far more on what comes after removal than on the removal itself. These are the deciding items:

The extent of the removal: Removing an implant that has completely lost its anchorage is a short procedure. With a partly integrated implant, the procedure takes longer and the effort to preserve the surrounding bone comes to the fore.
The condition of the remaining bone: If the bone has been preserved, a new implant is planned straight away. If the loss is extensive, either bone is added or the anchorage is taken from the deep layer; the two differ in cost and timetable.
Whether the bridgework needs replacing: With a bridge that can be kept on the remaining implants, the bridgework is adapted. If the load-bearing structure is rebuilt from scratch, the bridgework is replaced too, and this becomes the largest item in the total.
Guarantee cover: Whether the loss is covered at the clinic that did the first treatment directly determines the cost. That is why the cover needs to be in writing before treatment.

Frequently asked questions

Is it my fault that the implant failed?

Not always. Some of the causes relate to the patient (smoking, uncontrolled blood sugar, the care routine) and some relate to the surgery and planning. In some cases no visible cause can be found. What matters is not finding someone to blame but finding the cause, so that it is not repeated in a second attempt.

Is having an implant removed painful?

It is done under local anaesthetic, and removing an implant that has lost its anchorage is usually easier than placing it. You may have mild pain and swelling for a few days afterwards; most patients say they found this easier than the first surgery.

Can a new one be placed in the same spot straight away?

In some cases it is possible in the same session, but that is not the rule. If there is inflammation in the area or the bone has been under strain, the area is left to heal first. Rushing increases the risk of a second loss.

I have lost one implant. Will the others go too?

Not necessarily, but the cause needs to be looked at. If the cause is specific to that area, it does not affect the others. If there is a shared cause such as smoking, blood sugar or the care routine, that is a warning, and the whole mouth needs to be reviewed.

Will the new implant be different from the old one?

Usually, yes. Its length, diameter and angle, and which layer it takes its anchorage from, are decided again based on the remaining bone. Repeating the first plan exactly brings the same result if the cause has not been corrected.

Can I get my money back for the implant I lost?

That depends entirely on the clinic's guarantee terms, and it is something that should be discussed in writing before treatment. Which situations are covered, and whether missing check-ups affects the cover, should be clear from the start.

I have been told my bone has shrunk. Does that mean I can no longer have implants?

In most cases you still can. The layer that shrinks is usually the alveolar bone at the top, which holds the teeth; the hard cortical and basal layer deep in the jaw stays in place. When the anchorage can be taken from there, a graft and months of waiting do not come into it in most cases.

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