Questions
What if my dental implant fails after I return to New Zealand?
Implant failure after returning to NZ is uncommon but it does happen. Contact Picasso immediately, get an OPG from your NZ dentist, and share it digitally. Picasso's warranty covers fixture re-placement — May 2026.
If a Picasso-placed implant shows signs of failure after returning to New Zealand, the protocol is: email Picasso at [email protected] with photos, obtain an OPG from your NZ dentist, share it digitally with Picasso for remote assessment, and discuss warranty coverage — Osstem fixtures carry a 5-year Picasso warranty; Nobel Biocare and Straumann fixtures carry the manufacturer's lifetime warranty on the fixture itself — May 2026.
The question of what happens if something goes wrong after you return home is one of the most important questions to answer before committing to overseas dental treatment. This page gives a direct, honest answer — including what our warranty covers, what the realistic failure rate is, and what to do if you suspect a problem.
The short answer
Implant failure after returning to New Zealand is uncommon. Published global failure rates for well-placed implants in suitable patients are 2–5% over the implant’s lifetime. When failure does occur, the protocol is straightforward: contact Picasso immediately, see your NZ dentist for an OPG X-ray, share the imaging with us digitally, and we will advise on next steps including warranty coverage.
We will not place an implant that we do not believe will succeed. Pre-treatment CBCT imaging identifies risk factors before a fixture is placed.
What implant failure looks like
Understanding the warning signs is important because early recognition leads to better outcomes — whether the implant can be salvaged or needs to be removed and replaced.
Early failure (0–3 months): The implant does not osseointegrate. Signs include pain that does not improve after the first week (normal healing means decreasing pain from day 3 onwards), mobility when you press on the implant with your tongue or finger, or persistent discharge from the surgical site. Early failure typically requires removal and a healing period before re-placement.
Late failure (3+ months): Usually caused by peri-implantitis — a bacterial infection of the tissue and bone around the implant, functionally similar to gum disease. Signs include pain that returns after a period of normal function, swelling at the implant site, a foul taste, gum recession around the crown revealing the collar of the implant, or loosening of the crown itself. Late failure can often be treated and the implant preserved if caught early.
Signs requiring same-day attention:
- Pain that is increasing after day five (not decreasing)
- Fever above 38°C combined with site pain
- Pus or persistent unusual discharge
- Swelling spreading toward the jaw, neck, or eye area
- Any sense that the implant is mobile
What our warranty covers
| Brand | Fixture warranty | What is covered |
|---|---|---|
| Osstem | 5-year Picasso clinical warranty | Re-placement of failed fixture |
| ETK / Neodent / SIC | 5-year Picasso clinical warranty | Re-placement of failed fixture |
| Nobel Biocare | Manufacturer’s lifetime warranty on the fixture | Picasso facilitates the claim and replacement |
| Straumann | Manufacturer’s lifetime warranty on the fixture | Picasso facilitates the claim and replacement |
Important notes:
- Crown replacement is a separate item from fixture warranty. Confirm the crown warranty at the time of your quote.
- The warranty does not cover failure caused by: smoking post-surgery, uncontrolled systemic conditions (such as unmanaged diabetes), non-compliance with aftercare instructions, or trauma caused by accident or patient action.
- “Manufacturer’s lifetime warranty” on Nobel Biocare and Straumann fixtures refers to the implant manufacturer’s own warranty programme — not a warranty given by Picasso. Picasso facilitates the claim process.
What to do if failure is suspected in New Zealand
The clearest path is a four-step process:
Step 1: Contact Picasso immediately. Email [email protected] with photos of the area and a written description — what you are feeling, when it started, and what you have done so far. We respond during business hours (Vietnam time, GMT+7) and aim to reply within the same business day.
Step 2: See your NZ dentist for an OPG X-ray. A panoramic X-ray (OPG) shows bone levels around the implant and is the key diagnostic tool for assessing integration and peri-implant bone health. Book this as soon as practical after contacting us — do not wait weeks.
Step 3: Share the X-ray with Picasso digitally. Most dental software can export the OPG as a JPEG or DICOM file. Email it to [email protected] alongside the photos. We will conduct a remote assessment and advise on whether the situation is a normal variation, a treatable complication, or a genuine failure requiring intervention.
Step 4: Discuss options. Depending on the assessment, options may include: additional antibiotic cover, professional cleaning by a NZ dentist, surgical debridement, or — if the implant has genuinely failed — removal, healing, and re-placement under warranty coverage. We will discuss timing and cost coverage in detail once the clinical picture is clear.
Will a NZ dentist treat a Picasso-placed implant?
Yes. New Zealand dentists can assess, manage, and treat complications involving any placed implant, regardless of where surgery was performed. This includes removal of a failed fixture, management of peri-implantitis, and restoration work — fitting a new crown on a Picasso abutment, for example.
Picasso provides full implant records at discharge, including:
- Fixture brand and system name
- Fixture diameter and length
- System code and lot number
- Abutment type (screw-retained or cement-retained)
- Torque applied at placement
- Post-placement OPG
- Treatment summary and SmileCare warranty document
These records allow any NZ dentist to treat you as a continuing patient. Keep them accessible — ideally a digital copy in your email and a paper copy at home.
Honest risk context
Implant failure rates are higher in patients with certain risk factors. Picasso’s pre-treatment CBCT scan identifies these before placement:
- Active smokers: Nicotine causes vasoconstriction and impairs osseointegration. Failure rates are substantially higher in current smokers than non-smokers. We advise all patients to stop completely before surgery and throughout the integration period.
- Uncontrolled diabetes: Elevated blood glucose impairs immune response and healing. Well-controlled diabetes (HbA1c within target range) is not a contraindication, but uncontrolled diabetes is.
- Insufficient bone volume at the placement site: Inadequate bone height or width means the fixture cannot achieve primary stability. Bone grafting may be required first — or an implant may not be appropriate at that site. CBCT imaging quantifies this before any commitment is made.
- History of radiation to the jaw: Prior radiotherapy to the jaw area significantly increases failure risk. This is identified in your medical history review.
- History of bisphosphonate medication: Certain medications used for bone density or cancer treatment affect bone remodelling. This must be disclosed before treatment.
If risk factors are identified in your pre-treatment assessment, we will tell you honestly — including whether to delay treatment, modify the plan, or consider an alternative.
Prevention: what you control after surgery
The most significant predictor of long-term implant success is the first three months of healing. What you do in New Zealand during the osseointegration window matters:
- No smoking — the full integration period, not just the first few weeks.
- Soft diet around the implant site, as instructed in your discharge notes.
- Keep the healing cap or temporary crown clean — daily cleaning with a soft interdental brush.
- Attend a NZ dentist hygiene check 4–6 weeks after returning. Bring your implant passport.
- Do not delay trip two beyond 8 months post-placement without consulting Picasso.
For the full aftercare guide see Implant aftercare for NZ patients returning home.
Next step
If you are concerned about a current implant, email Picasso at [email protected] with photos now — do not wait for it to get worse. For general implant treatment information, see Dental implants in Vietnam for NZ patients. Warranty terms in full at /warranty/. To understand what we check before placing any implant, see Is it safe? and Implant brands we use. For a free written quote see /free-quote/.
About this page
Medically reviewed by
Dr. Tran Thanh Phong
Head of Implantology, Picasso Dental Clinic
DDS · 25+ years in practice · 15,000+ implants placed · 1,000+ All-on-4 cases
Clinical focus: Implantology · All-on-4 · Zygomatic implants
Dr. Tran Thanh Phong has practised since 2001 and leads implantology across the Picasso group. He was the first Vietnamese dentist to perform All-on-4 immediate loading (2010), placed over 15,000 implants across his career at roughly 600 per year, and has completed 400+ zygomatic implant cases since 2017. Loma Linda University-trained (2010). Clinical representative for Nobel Biocare in Vietnam since 2007.
Frequently asked questions
What is the failure rate for dental implants?
Global published failure rates for well-placed implants in suitable patients are 2–5% over the implant's lifetime. Early failure (within the first 3 months, before osseointegration completes) accounts for the majority. Late failure due to peri-implantitis is less common but increases with risk factors such as smoking and poor hygiene. Picasso's pre-treatment CBCT scan identifies risk factors before placement.
What does implant failure look like?
Early failure (0–3 months): the implant does not osseointegrate and becomes mobile, with persistent pain rather than improving pain. Late failure (3+ months): usually involves peri-implantitis — infection and bone loss around the implant — presenting as pain returning after a period of normal function, swelling, a foul taste, or visible gum recession around the implant site.
What does Picasso's implant warranty cover?
Osstem, ETK, Neodent, and SIC implants carry a 5-year Picasso clinical warranty covering fixture re-placement if the implant fails. Nobel Biocare and Straumann implants carry the manufacturer's lifetime warranty on the fixture itself, which Picasso facilitates. Crown replacement is separate from fixture warranty — confirm this at the time of your quote. The warranty does not cover failure caused by smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, non-compliance with aftercare, or patient-caused trauma.
Will a NZ dentist treat complications from a Picasso-placed implant?
Yes. Most NZ dentists will assess and manage complications including removal of a failed implant. Restoration work (replacing a crown on a surviving Picasso fixture) can also be done in NZ, using the abutment and implant specifications from your treatment documentation. Picasso provides full implant records including fixture brand, size, system code, and torque details — share these with your NZ dentist.
What records does Picasso give me for my NZ dentist?
Picasso provides an implant passport containing: fixture brand, diameter, length, system code, lot number, abutment type, and torque applied. It also includes the OPG taken post-placement, the treatment summary, and warranty documentation. These allow any NZ dentist to treat you as a continuing patient rather than starting from scratch.
Does smoking affect whether Picasso's warranty is valid?
Smoking is a documented risk factor that substantially increases implant failure rates. If failure occurs and smoking is identified as the contributing cause, warranty coverage may not apply. Picasso advises patients to stop smoking completely before surgery and throughout the osseointegration period (3–6 months). Disclosing smoking history honestly before treatment allows the clinical team to advise accurately on candidacy and risk.
What is peri-implantitis and how is it treated?
Peri-implantitis is infection and bone loss around a placed implant — functionally similar to gum disease but affecting the bone that supports the implant rather than a natural tooth root. Early peri-implantitis (mucositis) is reversible with professional cleaning and improved hygiene. Advanced peri-implantitis may require surgical debridement and bone grafting, or in severe cases, implant removal. Regular hygiene appointments with a NZ dentist are the most effective prevention.