Dental implants provide an excellent way to restore missing teeth. Not only do they keep neighboring healthy teeth in place and prevent bone loss in their vicinity, they can also protect healthy, intact adjacent ones from shifting out of alignment as a result of tooth loss.
However, like any surgical procedure, dental implant procedures do come with risks, including infection, nerve damage and sinus complications.
Infections
As with any surgical procedure, dental implant surgery carries with it an inherent risk of infection. This risk is magnified with implants due to their proximity to bone tissue – providing the perfect breeding ground for germs that thrive within this space. If left untreated, even minor infections could spread into larger issues and lead to bone loss around them, leading ultimately to failure of your implants.
Proper hygiene and regular visits to a dentist are the keys to avoiding infections in dental implants, along with choosing an established clinic that adheres to stringent safety and health regulations. This will ensure they receive cutting-edge implant technology as well as trained surgeons performing surgery on them.
If an implant site becomes infected, symptoms include pain, tenderness when biting down and fever. It’s essential that any infection be reported immediately so it can be treated before it worsens and leads to further damage to nearby teeth or potentially spreading to the bloodstream and becoming life-threatening. If left untreated, further damage could result from bacteria spreading to surrounding teeth as well as entering into your bloodstream, potentially becoming life-threatening.
Smokers may also increase their chances of dental implant infection, due to smoking’s impact on producing enough nitric oxide in their mouth. Nitric oxide helps keep saliva pH balanced – essential for healthy teeth and gums – so without enough of it the acidity levels in saliva rise too high, potentially damaging enamel and creating an environment suitable for bacteria growth in your oral environment.
An additional risk for dental implant infection is having a history of periodontitis, as gum disease can lead to bone loss around an implant and reduce its stability.
patients who neglect to brush and floss regularly are at a greater risk of infection, as bacteria and fungus build up in their mouths, eventually making its way towards implant tissues and leading to infection. Hydrating regularly is also essential, as it will wash away any debris or bacteria from one’s system and keep one feeling better overall.
Damage to surrounding teeth
Surgery performed to place dental implants can sometimes result in damage to surrounding teeth and tissue, although this is rare. Most commonly caused by infection which affects gum tissue or bone supporting an implant – potentially serious problems but easily treatable.
Implant surgery carries with it the risk of nerve damage. While performing their surgical procedure, a dentist could inadvertently hit a nerve, leading to pain or numbness in the surrounding area and signalling that replacement or relocation are needed for their implant(s). To minimize risk in this regard, dental surgeons perform comprehensive exams and obtain 3D x-rays prior to beginning any treatments.
Bruising is an often-experienced side effect of dental operations and procedures such as dental implants, due to their invasive nature. Although it should subside quickly after treatment has finished, and your dentist may recommend over-the-counter painkillers as relief if necessary.
Bacteria are another major concern with dental implants. Since oral bacteria thrive in our mouths, any time they make their way into a surgical site they could cause infection resulting in swelling, pain and pus. Therefore it is vitally important that good oral hygiene practices and not smoking during recovery period is adhered to to avoid complications like these.
Failure of dental implants occurs if they don’t adhere properly with the jaw bone, becoming loose over time or failing entirely due to poor oral health or smoking, leading to additional procedures to replace it. If you’re experiencing a clicking or popping in your jaw, contact your dentist immediately.
To ensure successful healing from surgery it is vital that patients follow all advice provided by their dentist such as eating soft foods and taking over-the-counter painkillers – doing so can decrease risks such as infections, nerve damage or sinus issues and reduce frustration for all concerned parties involved.
Nerve or tissue damage
Dental implants are an increasingly popular solution to replacing missing teeth. Like all surgical procedures, however, dental implant placement carries risks; although most are minor and treatable with painkillers or antibiotics. Potential risks may include infection, injury to surrounding teeth or blood vessels and sinus problems.
All implant procedures carry some risk of infection; however, this risk can be reduced with appropriate pre and post care, including eating soft diet and taking antibiotics to help your body fight off any bacteria that might enter the wound. Left untreated, infection could lead to inflammation at the implant site, bleeding, or even loss of the implant altogether.
At times, implants may also cause tissue or nerve damage near their area of installation. While this complication is relatively rare, it could result in numbness or tingling to occur around teeth, gums, lips or cause sinus issues if they punctured a maxillary sinus cavity.
Finally, an implant may not integrate properly with bone. This may be caused by infection, insufficient stability in bone or improper placement by the surgeon.
Problems associated with dental implants may be rare but nonetheless remain important to consider when making your decision about getting them. If you have any doubts, speak with your dentist or oral surgeon prior to beginning any surgeries – they will give a full examination and review your medical history to ensure there are no conditions preventing successful healing as well as develop a treatment plan tailored specifically to you.
Dental implants are one of the safest treatments available to those missing teeth on the market today, provided you follow your doctor’s instructions pre and post procedure. Informing them of any medical conditions or medications you are taking could impact how the implant heals over time; any complications or questions about recovery should be reported through FDA MedWatch.
Sinus problems
Sinus issues with dental implants may be rare but may occur. Complications typically arise when an implant is placed too near a nerve and causes nerve damage that manifests itself as pain or numbness in the tongue, lips or chin. Another possibility may be rupture of Schneiderian membrane in areas with less bone density or after an advanced sinus lift procedure such as sinus grafting procedure.
Sinus issues may arise when a titanium implant post penetrates the sinus cavity. Painful signs are the most obvious symptoms; relief may be obtained with sinus injections or antibiotics. Loosening may occur, which could be corrected by repositioning; additionally, failure of osseointegration could occur – this could happen more easily in cases involving poor oral hygiene or health conditions like diabetes, which slow down healing time and lower chances of successful integration.
Though any surgery carries risks, most dental implant procedures are generally safe. Adherence to good dental hygiene practices and abstaining from smoking can greatly lower their chance of complications such as infection during and post surgery.
Before dental implant surgery, it’s crucial that the surgeon be skilled and knowledgeable of the appropriate surgical techniques. Furthermore, their medical history should be carefully considered in terms of sinus health and bone density in the area where there are missing teeth. Before an implant can be placed in the upper jaw, a sinus lift procedure may be required to add more bone. This minimally invasive process involves making an incision in gum tissue and lifting sinus membrane to add bone graft material before stitching up the area. Achieved properly, this can significantly increase success rates of dental implants; ideal results should result in full integration between implant and bone within several months post implantation for maximum support and primary stability.
