title: Ailing and failing endosseous dental implants: a literature review.
abstract: Although the overall success rate of implant dentistry is very high, dental implants occasionally fail. It is essential for the clinician to recognize unhealthy implants and to determine whether they are ailing, failing, or failed prior to beginning any salvage efforts. Ailing and failing implants are amenable to therapy. Implants diagnosed as failed should be removed. This review provides the reader with information on non-surgical and surgical therapies available for managing ailing and failing implants. Undoubtedly, the best steps to avoid encountering ailing or failing implants involve proper case selection, excellent surgical technique, placing an adequate restoration on the implant, educating the implant patient to maintain meticulous oral hygiene, and evaluating the implant both clinically and radiographically at frequent recall visits.
authors.affiliation: Advanced General Dentistry Program at Fort Benning, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: Eric T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Ashley
authors.forename: Lemuel L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Covington
authors.forename: Barry G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: Lawrence G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Breault
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000009:adverse effects; D015921:Dental Implants / Q000009:adverse effects; D003769:Dental Occlusion, Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D017268:Dental Prosthesis Retention; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D012534:Dental Scaling; D006801:Humans; D019558:Occlusal Adjustment; D016348:Osseointegration; D018579:Patient Selection; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012086:Reoperation
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D015921:Dental Implants