What Can Go Wrong With Dental Implants, and What We Do About It

Written by the Lotus Clinic team. Clinically reviewed and approved by Dr Emanuele Clozza, implant surgeon. September 2026.

Most clinics talk about dental implants as if nothing ever goes wrong. Implants do have a high success rate, but no surgery is risk free, and you deserve to know the problems that can happen before you decide. Here is an honest list, how likely each one is in general terms, and what we do at Lotus Clinic to prevent them or put them right.

In the first few days: normal after-effects

Some swelling, bruising and tenderness is normal for a few days after implant surgery, and more so after full arch treatment. Most patients manage with ordinary painkillers and are back at work within a day or two after a single implant. We give you written aftercare instructions and a number to call if you are worried.

Infection

As with any surgery, an infection can develop around a new implant. Signs include pain that gets worse rather than better after a few days, swelling that increases, or a bad taste. It is uncommon, and when it happens it is usually treated with cleaning and, if needed, antibiotics. Our surgical protocols, and asking you to keep the area clean while it heals, keep the risk low.

The implant does not fuse with the bone

An implant has to bond with the jawbone over the weeks after surgery. Occasionally that does not happen and the implant becomes loose. It is most likely in people who smoke, have poorly controlled diabetes or have very soft bone. If it happens, the implant is removed, the area is allowed to heal, and in most cases a new implant can be placed later. We will explain at your consultation what would happen and what it would cost in your situation, so there are no surprises.

Nerve and sinus problems

In the lower jaw, a nerve runs through the bone that gives feeling to the lip and chin. If an implant is placed too close to it, the area can feel numb or tingly, sometimes for a long time. In the upper jaw, implants near the back can reach the sinus. Both problems are rare when the position of the nerve and sinus is known before surgery.

This is where planning matters most. Every implant we place is planned on our own low dose CBCT scanner, which shows the nerve, the sinus and the exact amount of bone in 3D, and placed with a 3D printed surgical guide so that the implant goes where it was planned.

Peri-implantitis: the long-term risk

The most common long-term problem with implants is peri-implantitis, which is gum disease around an implant. Bacteria build up where the gum meets the implant, the gum becomes inflamed, and over time the bone supporting the implant can be lost. It often causes no pain until it is advanced.

The biggest risk factors are a history of gum disease, smoking and poor cleaning around the implant. That is why we treat any gum disease before placing implants, show you how to clean around them, and ask implant patients to see our hygienists regularly. Our implant hygiene appointment is £170 and uses EMS Airflow Guided Biofilm Therapy, which is designed to clean around implants gently. Caught early, peri-implantitis can usually be treated.

Mechanical problems

The parts on top of the implant can have problems too. The small screw that holds a crown can loosen, and the crown or the teeth on a full arch bridge can chip, especially in people who grind their teeth. These are usually simple to fix, and we may recommend a night guard if you grind.

How often do implants fail?

Research over many years reports that the large majority of dental implants are still in place and working ten years after they are placed. Your own chances depend on your health, whether you smoke, the quality of your bone, how well you look after the implant and how carefully it was planned and placed. We will talk about your personal risks at your assessment rather than quote a headline number.

What you can do to reduce the risks

• Tell us about all your medical conditions and medicines, including bone medications.
• Stop smoking, or at least stop around the time of surgery and healing.
• Get any gum disease treated first.
• Follow your aftercare instructions for the first few weeks.
• Clean around your implants every day and keep your hygiene appointments.
• Come back to us early if something does not feel right.

Ask us anything

If you have questions about the risks, ask them at your assessment. Our implant surgeons, Dr Emanuele Clozza and Dr Ivana Matkovic, would rather you asked than worried. You can read more on our dental implants page and in our guide to implant costs. The assessment costs £95 (usually £195) and includes an examination, X-rays and scans and a written plan. Book online or call us on 020 8201 8080.