Failed Dental Implant Repair in San Jose, CA
 If you have a failing or already-failed dental implant, our board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons in San Jose, CA evaluate and repair complex implant cases for patients across the South Bay and Central Valley.
Coming to us after an implant has gone wrong is more common than most people realize. Implants are highly predictable when planned and placed well, but they can and do fail, and the repair often calls for a surgeon with more advanced training than the original placement.
You don’t have to go back to whoever placed the implant. Most patients we see for failed implants come to us as a second opinion, sometimes through their general dentist’s referral and sometimes on their own after researching options. We’ll evaluate what happened, image the area with a 3D CBCT scan, and lay out the realistic repair options without pressure to commit on the spot. If we can’t help, we’ll tell you that too.
At South Valley Oral and Facial Surgery, the two surgeons are Dr. Joseph McMurray and Dr. Arian Chehrehsa, both board-certified in dental implant surgery and full-arch reconstruction. Between them they’ve managed thousands of complex cases, including revisions of implants placed by other providers. We see patients from San Jose, Gilroy, Los Banos, and the surrounding South Bay communities.
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Why Dental Implants Fail and What Repair Involves
 A failed dental implant isn’t always a single, dramatic event. Sometimes the implant feels loose. Sometimes the surrounding gum is chronically sore or bleeds. Sometimes a crown or abutment fractures. Sometimes a 3D scan shows bone loss around the implant that wasn’t there a year ago. The pattern depends on what went wrong, and identifying the cause is the first step in figuring out whether the implant can be saved or needs to be removed and replaced.
The Most Common Reasons Implants Fail
There are a handful of recurring causes we see in the cases that come to us:
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Peri-implantitis
– Inflammation and bone loss around the implant, often triggered by bacterial accumulation and sometimes by residual cement from the original crown placement
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Failure to Integrate – The bone never fully fuses to the implant in the first few months, which usually shows up as mobility or persistent discomfort
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Mechanical Failure – The implant itself, the abutment, or the crown fractures, sometimes from grinding forces and sometimes from a stress riser built into the original restoration
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Overload – An implant placed in too little bone, in the wrong position, or under a poorly designed bite can fail from sustained occlusal force
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Bone Loss Around the Implant – Even without active infection, progressive bone loss can leave too little support for the implant to function long-term
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Placement Errors – Implants placed at the wrong angle, too close to a nerve, too close to the sinus, or in inadequate bone are at higher risk of long-term failure |
Many cases involve more than one of these. An implant placed in marginal bone is more vulnerable to peri-implantitis. Peri-implantitis accelerates the bone loss. The mechanical pressure on a compromised implant adds insult. Untangling which factor came first matters because it shapes what the repair needs to address.
What “Repair” Actually Means
“Failed implant repair” covers a range of approaches, and the right one depends on what we find on imaging. The options usually include one or more of the following: surgical cleaning of the implant surface and regeneration of lost bone (used when the implant itself is still solid and we’re trying to save it); removal of the failed implant, bone grafting of the site, and placement of a new implant several months later; immediate removal and replacement in the same visit, when the bone allows; or removal followed by an alternative restoration if the site can no longer hold an implant. For patients with significant upper jaw bone loss, we sometimes recommend zygomatic implants, which anchor into the cheekbone rather than the maxilla and can succeed where conventional implants cannot.
Your Failed Implant Repair Surgeons in San Jose
Complex implant cases call for a surgeon who has done complex implant work. The original placement may have been performed by a general dentist with weekend-course training, a periodontist, or a specialist who simply hasn’t encountered the specific revision challenge in front of them. That’s no judgment on the original provider. It just means the next step needs someone whose daily practice includes this kind of work.
Both of our surgeons are board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons with hospital-based residency training in dental implant placement and reconstruction. Dr. Joseph McMurray has been practicing for more than 35 years and brings additional experience from 11 years of U.S. Navy service, including time as fleet oral surgeon aboard the USS Nimitz. Dr. Arian Chehrehsa is dual board-certified in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and Anesthesiology, with particular expertise in full-mouth implant reconstruction and zygomatic implant cases. He leads regional study clubs on full-arch implant surgery, which keeps him in regular contact with the most current revision techniques.
The Failed Implant Repair Process
 The repair process for a failed implant follows a defined sequence, though the specifics vary widely based on what we find. Most patients should expect at least two surgical visits spread over several months, with multiple follow-ups in between. Here is the typical path.
Step 1 – Comprehensive Evaluation and 3D Imaging
We start with a thorough clinical exam and a CBCT scan. The 3D image shows us the bone level around the implant, the relationship to adjacent teeth and anatomy, the integrity of the implant itself, and any pathology in the surrounding tissue. This is also where a second opinion consultation really earns its value. Sometimes the failure isn’t what the patient was told, and the right repair is different than what was initially proposed.
Step 2 – Treating Active Infection
If there is active infection around the implant, we treat it before doing any surgical repair. That may involve a course of antibiotics, focused debridement, and a few weeks for the tissue to stabilize. Operating on actively infected tissue compromises the repair, so we don’t rush this step.
Step 3 – The Surgical Repair
We perform the repair under local anesthesia, with IV sedation available. The specifics depend on the plan from Step 1. We may attempt to save the implant by accessing the bony defect, cleaning the implant surface, and regenerating the lost bone with a graft and membrane. Or we may remove the failed implant, debride the site, and graft the area to prepare for a new implant later. In some cases we can remove and replace in the same surgical visit.
Step 4 – Bone Healing and Site Preparation
If we’ve placed a bone graft, the site needs 4 to 6 months to mature before a new implant goes in. If the case involves the upper molar area, this is also when a sinus lift may happen, either at the time of the original removal or as a separate step.
Step 5 – New Implant Placement
Once the site has healed, we place a new implant using the lessons from the failure of the first one. That may mean a different implant size, a different angulation, a different brand, or a different restoration design. The goal is to give the new implant the best possible long-term odds, which is why we don’t simply put the same implant back in the same place.
Step 6 – Restoration and Long-Term Follow-Up
The new implant gets a final crown, bridge, or full-arch restoration once it has integrated. We schedule longer-than-routine follow-ups for the first year because revision cases warrant closer monitoring. We also coordinate with your general dentist on long-term implant care and maintenance so the new implant has the best possible support going forward.
Benefits of Treating a Failed Implant Promptly
A failing implant doesn’t usually get better on its own, and waiting tends to make the repair harder. Patients who address the issue early often have more options, simpler procedures, and better long-term results.
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Preserves Surrounding Bone – The longer a failing implant stays in place, the more bone is typically lost around it, and bone you preserve now is bone our team doesn’t have to rebuild later with grafting
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Keeps More Repair Options Open – Early intervention sometimes saves the implant entirely with bone regeneration; delayed intervention often forces removal and replacement, sometimes with a sinus lift added to the plan
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Reduces the Risk of Spreading Infection – Peri-implantitis around one implant can affect adjacent teeth and implants, and we evaluate the entire area with 3D imaging at the consultation to catch early spread
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Restores Comfortable Function – A failing implant is often sore, mobile, or interferes with chewing, and repair restores normal function
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Reduces Total Treatment Time – Catching the failure early shortens the total path back to a working tooth, often by months, and we sequence the bone graft, healing, and implant placement in-house so you’re not waiting between providers
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Lowers Cumulative Cost – Smaller, earlier repairs are almost always less expensive than the larger reconstructions that follow from delayed care |
We understand the instinct to hope a problem resolves on its own. With dental implants, that instinct usually costs you. The earlier we evaluate the situation, the more we can typically do.
Why Choose Our Team for Complex Implant Cases
Failed implant cases are not where you want to be the first patient of the day. Our team handles complex implant work routinely, including cases that have been turned down or deferred elsewhere.
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Two Board-Certified OMFS Surgeons – Dr. McMurray and Dr. Chehrehsa together cover the full range of revision work, including zygomatic implants for severe upper jaw bone loss
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In-House Anesthesia Expertise – Dr. Chehrehsa’s dual certification in anesthesiology means sedation decisions are made by your surgical team rather than a separate provider
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3D CBCT Planning – We image every revision case in 3D, which is essential for understanding the bony defect and planning the next implant position
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Coordination With Your Referring Dentist – If your general dentist placed the original implant, we work alongside them on the repair plan and the eventual restoration
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Honest Second Opinions – If we don’t think repair is the right path, we’ll say so and explain the alternatives we would consider |
We’ve also developed a careful approach to revision cases that recognizes how stressful this experience is. You’ve already been through a procedure that didn’t work as planned. We don’t want the second go-around to feel like a sales pitch.
Failed Implant Repair Cost and Financing
Cost is a fair question, and the honest answer is that revision cases vary more than primary implant cases. Some repairs are relatively contained: a small bone graft, an implant removal, a replacement. Others involve a sinus lift, multi-tooth grafting, and a more complex final restoration. We give every patient a written estimate after the consultation and CBCT scan.
Two things to know about insurance and cost on revision cases. First, dental insurance sometimes covers a portion of the work, particularly if the failure can be coded as treatment of peri-implantitis or as bone grafting. Medical insurance occasionally covers a portion when significant jawbone deterioration is involved. Second, some patients with implants placed elsewhere have questions about whether the original provider should bear any cost. We don’t get involved in that discussion, but we’ll provide whatever documentation you need to have it with the original office. Financing through third-party lenders is available. More on our insurance and financing options.
Schedule a Failed Implant Consultation
If you have a failing or already-failed dental implant, a consultation and a 3D scan are the right starting point. Call us at 408-479-9449 or request an appointment online to get started. Our San Jose office is at 5595 Winfield Blvd, Suite 202. We also see patients at our Gilroy and Los Banos offices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my failed implant be saved, or does it always have to come out?
Sometimes it can be saved, sometimes it has to come out. Early peri-implantitis with mild bone loss can sometimes be treated with surgical cleaning and bone regeneration, keeping the original implant in place. Mobile implants, fractured implants, and implants with severe bone loss almost always need to come out. The CBCT scan answers this question more reliably than a clinical exam alone.
Was the failure my fault?
Usually not, or at least not entirely. Implant failures most often involve a combination of factors: the original case planning, the implant placement, the restoration design, and patient factors like smoking, oral hygiene, or systemic conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes. Even when patient factors contribute, the case selection and surgical decisions made at the original placement carry significant weight. We don’t spend the consultation assigning blame.
Will the repair be more painful than the original surgery?
For most patients, no. The procedures are similar in scope to the original implant placement, often with bone grafting added. The area is fully numb during the surgery, and IV sedation is available. Post-op discomfort and swelling are comparable to a typical implant placement, manageable with standard medications, and largely gone within 3 to 5 days.
How long until I have a working tooth again?
Total timeline varies by what the repair requires. If we can remove and immediately replace in one visit, you can have a temporary in place that day with a final restoration in 3 to 4 months. If the case needs removal, bone grafting, healing, then implant placement and another healing period, the full path is typically 8 to 12 months. We give you a specific timeline at the consultation based on your CBCT findings.
Do I have to go back to the dentist who placed the original implant?
No. You can have the revision done wherever you choose. Many of our revision patients are referred by their original general dentist who recognizes the case needs an oral surgeon. Others come to us independently. We’ll communicate with whichever providers you want us to.
Is there a higher risk that the second implant will also fail?
Revision implants do carry slightly elevated risk compared to primary implants placed in untreated sites, but the gap is smaller than most patients expect when the revision is planned carefully. Identifying what caused the first failure, addressing the bony defect with grafting, choosing the right implant size and position, and designing the restoration to avoid overload all reduce the risk substantially. Success rates for well-planned revision implants are typically in the 85 to 95 percent range.
Will I need bone grafting along with the new implant?
In most revision cases, yes. The failure usually leaves a bony defect that needs to be rebuilt before a new implant has the support it needs. Sometimes the grafting happens at the same time as the original removal; sometimes it’s a separate procedure. Patients with significant upper jaw bone loss may also need a sinus lift.
What if my implant can’t be replaced at all?
It’s uncommon, but it happens. If a conventional implant truly isn’t possible at the site, the alternatives depend on the case: a fixed bridge using adjacent teeth as supports, a partial denture, or for severely resorbed upper jaws, zygomatic implants that anchor in the cheekbone. We’ll walk through the realistic options at the consultation rather than pushing a single answer. |
