What is the success rate of the bone grafting (or bone repair) around ailing dental implants (threads exposed)? What is the success rate of the gum grafting around ailing dental implants (threads exposed)? I posted my background story yesterday. Copied here again in case you need to know it to answer my success rate questions.

10 years ago, five 3.75mm x 13mm implants were placed on my lower jaw, on top of which is a fixed hybrid denture. The recent x-ray shows that I lost over 3mm bone around three implants (bone level is at the 3rd and the 4th thread). The implant threads are not above the gum line yet, but pretty close. I have been experiencing minor bleeding while I am flossing one of these three implants for a couple of weeks. Although the implants feel stable and the gum surrounding the implants look healthy, the minor bleeding and excessive bone loss (I think I can call these three implants ailing implants) greatly worries me. I am relatively young and need the implants to serve me for at least 30~40 years. What are my options?

1) Wait until the implant threads above gum line and become unmanageable? What are my options at that time? Can bone be successfully added around the implant threads? Smoothen the exposed implant threads?

2) Gum graft now --- can it prevent future bone loss?

3) Bone graft now --- what is the success rate and how long can the grafted bone last before melting doen?

4) Better hygiene? I am flossing daily and rinsing after each meal, and using hydra floss a few times a day. What else can I do to reduce future bone loss around the implants?

After many years experience with implants, I am starting to realize what was advocated by the doctors that the dental implant can prevent bone loss is not always true. So many troubles can come along with it, which I was not told by my doctor while the implants were placed.

I visited 3 dentists. They visually checked the gum color and took x-ray and didn't recommend me to take any action. But I do feel something is going on around at least one implant. I can see a pocket there and it feels different while I press the tissue (not painful though). Please kindly provide me your opinion. Thanks and lot of appreciation!

Very unlucky patient