Most can’t believe that a titanium dental implant can crack or break! It happens! More now than in the past.
Why do implants break?
Some dental implants are very thin at the top. Many people believe that a conical connection type is a better connection for the abutment and tooth. The problem with that style of implant is this happens a lot… Fracture! The conical design is good, if the the walls are thick enough to prevent a crack.
Obviously this is unrepairable and you have to start all over again and dig the implant out. You can’t save any of the parts usually. The implant needs to be removed.
I do not subscribe to these thin walled implants just because they have become popular.
The tried and true dental implants do not fracture like this.
Small molar implants break
Another problem happens when the implant is too small for a molar and of course the bite force is so heavy that you can even crack titanium.
I have found that many newer dentist also believe that implants are stronger than teeth and don’t need to be connected to one another. This is simply not the case as demonstrated by this photograph.
If the implant is loaded “off-axis” this also leads to a higher chance of breakage.
I have been doing these procedures for 20 years and I am extremely selective on the products I will use. This to me is unacceptable but I am seeing more and more of it in my office for removal.
30% of my practice is now dealing with dental implant problems. Do it right the first time and please work with a very skilled and experienced implant dentist.
Ramsey A. Amin, D.D.S.
Diplomate of the American Board of Oral Implantology /Implant Dentistry
Fellow-American Academy of Implant Dentistry
Burbank, CA
Hi Dr. Ramsey Amin. Are you familiar with Hiossen implants (a subsidiary of Osstem)? If so, how do they compare in quality to a company like Straumann for a full size 4.5 implant grade 4 titanium, implanted in molar positions? From my understanding, their abutments and screws are proprietary and sometimes difficult to come by if future restorations are needed, short of custom.
Hi John-thanks for your inquiry. I would avoid grade 4 titanium in the posterior part of the mouth. The Hiossen brand of dental implants is known to fracture. If I had to choose I would get Strauman if I wanted to have grade 4 titanium. I would suggest the titanium alloy either grade 5 or better yet grade 23 with extra low interstitial’s. I know this is a lot of technical jargon but the reality is the success of your implant depends on much more important things than the composition of the implant. Any implant will do but I think I would avoid that particular brand. They have been known to fracture. Here is a link to a post showing a fracture of that exact brand of implant Hiossen
I have a failed rt. Lower Molar implant and can’t conceive of a dentist removing it. Moreover, I have a LT. Upper bridge that appears to be failing as well. What action would you suggest I take, having limited information.
I am not sure what you are asking? This post about implant removal may help or please re-phrase your question. Were you not aware that implants can sometimes not work?
I had implant done on my upper jaw tooth next to molar tooth due to crack in tooth in center. Once I had infection there and whole procedure was reapetaed. When I was in 3rd stage of second implant before Dr, was ready to crown, the implant screw fell out while I was eating lunch. My dentist is out of town. I am very confused and scared. What do you suggest. I am not a good candidad for implant? Do I have to start from base one? I had initial implant done nearly 8 months ago then reapeted after 2mo. duo to infection. I am now 73 years old female. L have paid $3000 upfront to my dentist. Any advice will be very much appericiated. My overall dental health was very good up to last year. Thanking you in advance for your kindness. Bharti Parikh from Boynton beach Florida.
It’s probably not the implant but rather the healing abutment. That piece is supposed to be detachable. Hopefully it is not the entire implant in the bone. An x-ray will tell for sure
In reference to your reply to Alicia… what about mini implants for your front teeth where there is less pressure? Or as a part of a bridge for front upper teeth—say 4 on 6?
In reference to your reply to Alicia… what about mini implants for your front teeth where there is less pressure? Or as a part of a bridge for front upper teeth—say 4 on 6?
Hello Dr Ramsey Amin, you never cease to amaze me when I see a different blog e.g. this one and the one before this , your experience,knowledge and ability wow ,along with with your manner and professional expertise , and your willingness to share your knowledge is truly honourable / I would still like to come and see you as I have the utmost trust in you,time is the only thing making it hard for me to organise RE our different country locations ,.I hope this email finds you and your family and your staff well and safe RE the fires we see on the news in California ,as I am not familiar with the areas that have been hit,in relation to where you all are .kindest regards …julie
me again.. Is this something new?? Is it true if your don’t have enough bone structure that you should not get mini implants even with bone graft? This is what I found…
(The MDI System consists of a miniature titanium implant that acts like the root of your tooth and a retaining fixture that is incorporated into the base of your denture. The head of the implant is shaped like a ball, and the retaining fixture acts like a socket that contains a rubber O-ring. The O-ring snaps over the ball when the denture is seated and holds the denture at a predetermined level of force. When seated, t he denture gently rests on the gum tissue. The implant fixtures allow for micro-mobility while withstanding natural lifting forces.) Thank you
Mini implants break all the time. They should be considered temporary rather than real implants.