Mechanical Damage to Dental Implants: A Literature Review

Introduction. Osseointegrated dental implants are considered a significant advancement in modern dentistry, providing both functional and aesthetic solutions for patients with partial or complete edentulism. Despite the high initial success rate, approaching 100%, various experimental and clinical studies have shown that outcomes may be compromised by complications. Knowledge of potential complications during and after dental procedures is essential for treatment planning, dentist–patient communication, informed consent, and postoperative care. Aim. The purpose of this literature review was to analyse the current incidence of complications associated with titanium implants, as observed clinically and reported in recent literature, and to compare these findings with in vitro results and early clinical observations. Materials and Methods. A literature search and analysis were conducted using scientific databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, SpringerLink, ScienceDirect, and Wiley Online Library, covering publications from the past 50 years. Conclusions. Dental implant techniques have significantly expanded the reconstructive possibilities of prosthetic dentistry. However, screw-type titanium implants may be subject to complications requiring removal. Clinical complications with implants and implant-supported prostheses are commonly classified into six categories: surgical, implant loss, bone loss, peri-implant soft tissue problems, mechanical, and aesthetic/phonetic. This review highlights two major mechanical complications: sudden fracture of the implant body and abutment screw. Biomechanical and physiological overload appear to be the most frequent causes of implant fracture, mainly due to parafunctional habits and prosthesis design. Parafunctional habits such as bruxism or clenching can increase overload on the implant–prosthesis system through the magnitude, duration, frequency, and direction of applied forces. Other clinical cases involve mechanical failures such as decementation, screw loosening, screw fracture, prosthetic framework fracture, and implant fracture.