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What are the potential dangers, risks or problems associated with Dental Implants?

What are the potential dangers, risks or problems associated with Dental Implants?

By shereyl

January 31, 2012

Category: Uncategorized

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Dental Implants involve surgery and just as with any type of surgery there are definite risks involved. Before you decide on an implant it is important that you fully understand the risks.

Dental implants may become infected. Infections may develop around the implant in the gums or even in the bone itself. This infection may develop in a person’s sinus cavities and could cause infection in the month and the neck. Peri-implantitis is the most common type of inflammation and is cause by bacteria in the area around the implant. When infection or inflammation occurs it may be treated by cleaning the infected area and taking antibiotics. The implant may or may not need to be removed. If it is removed a new one may be implanted after the area has healed. The percentage of dental implants that succeed is extremely high; however there is the possibility that due to a deep infection either during the surgery or afterwards the implant will be rejected.

Nerve damage is one of dental implants most painful problems. This is most often caused when an implant is placed too close to a nerve. Understanding how to best orient an implant is one reason it is important that your dentist have both the training and experience to perform the procedure well. Nerve damage can cause numbness, a tingling or pain that may be temporary or permanent. If the implant was placed on top of the nerve, the pain could be so intense that removal would need to be done as quickly as possible. While waiting for the implant to be removed the patient would need pain relievers.

Osteointegration failure is also a risk. Dental implants are meant to fuse to the surrounding bone, this is called osteointegration. If the implant does not fuse to the bone it may cause discomfort and fail to function as it should.

Injury and breakage are also two very real risks. There is always the possibility that an adjacent tooth, its root or blood vessels may be damaged during the implantation process. This may result in a chip or crack of the adjacent tooth. It may also result in damage to roots or blood vessels that require surgery to repair and increase the chance of infection. An implant or the implant screw or root may break and have to be removed. It is often recommended that the patient eat only soft food for approximately a week after dental implant surgery to avoid possible tooth breakage. The patient’s sinus cavity may be damaged during the process of drilling. This would increase the possibility of infection.

The best way to reduce the chances of complications from dental implants is to start by choosing an experienced and well trained dentist. Then make a firm commitment to good oral health and follow your dentist’s instructions.

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