Implant failure: Prevalence, risk factors, management, and prevention

The long-term survival rates of implants and implant-supported restorations are known to be high. However, complications and implant failure can still occur and are considered by many clinicians as a major obstacle for implant treatment. In spite of recent improvements, implant therapy still includes a biological healing and integration process. These biological processes are multifactorial and can be impaired by local or systemic factors leading to complications that may result in implant failure. Major etiological risk factors such as smoking, poor bone quality, tREFIID trauma and occlusal overload have been associated with increased implant failure. The importance of managing patients with those risk factors and being able to address possible complications and failure is essential for the implant surgeon and dental practitioner. The prevalence, etiology, risk factors, prevention and management of implant failure are discussed in the chapter with a thorough review of the literature published on this topic.