Dental implants are considered a major investment by people and not without risks. One problem with dental implants is that there will be tens and thousands of dollars to be spent for the dental implants because of a very delicate procedure and expensive materials to be used. Aside from the very expensive procedure, it is also time consuming because the healing time of the most commonly used dental implants today may take 3 to 6 months before the restoration is placed. The crown of the dental implants should also be replaced every 10 to 15 years. Lacing a dental implant is a surgical procedure that also involves problems related to surgical procedures. Along with being expensive and time consuming, dental implants may cause complications such as:
- Dental implant pain
Pain is the most common complication of dental implants because of the incision and suturing of the gums to expose and close the jawbones. The dental implant causes inflammatory response in the oral cavity leading to pain sensation. Pain usually subsides for a couple of days. Dentists also prescribe analgesics to patients to relive pain.
- Bruising and swelling
Bruising and swelling is also a possible complication of dental implant. Bruising may be apparent on the gums because of the incision on the area that may lead to accumulation of blood underneath. Swelling is also a result of the inflammatory response because of increase in the vascular permeability. The swelling may cause the lips to pout to make way for the inflamed gums and soft tissues.
- Infection
Infection is also a possible complication of dental implants. The mouth contains a lot of microorganisms and the initial placement of a dental implant may cause infection on the placement site. The bone and the gums are usually the ones getting infected when the procedure is not done aseptically.
- Rejection
Since the dental implant is a foreign object introduced in the body, the immune system may act to remove or fight the implant causing rejection reactions such as fever and prolonged healing.
- Dental implant overload
Overload may also be experienced by the person especially when two to three teeth are placed in one dental implant. The biting pressure should also be reduced while the implant and bone are healing in order to prevent tension in the structures such as the jaw bone.
- Bone loss
Bone loss may be experienced around the dental implant. This may also happen around a natural tooth. Despite bone loss, the dental implant may still stay in place, which usually makes patients asymptomatic for bone loss. Regular dental X-rays are needed to assess the surrounding bones of dental implants.
- Dental implant failure
The dental implant may also break being a metal, which is exposed to breakage or corrosion. Breakage of dental implants may require removal and replacement. This complication is very rare nowadays because of a more detailed manufacturing than the dental implants before.
- Break in the suture lines
This may involve the opening of the sutured incision sites before healing takes place. Suture removal is often a result of increased tension on the area. It is important for people who have undergone a recent dental implant to be cautious in biting and eating.
- Nerve damage
Nerve damage is also a potential dental implant complication as a result of severing the nerves during dental implant procedures. Nerve damage may cause tingling sensations, numbness and intense pain on the implant site as well as the adjacent tissues. The chin and the lips may also suffer similar effects.
- Sinus problems
There is also a tendency for the dental implants on the upper jaw to be displaced and protrude in the sinuses in the maxillary area thereby leading to sinusitis-like manifestations.
Since dental implants often cause complications, dentists often inform patients on the care for dental implants to prevent dental implant problems. It is also essential that patients undertake necessary measures such as visiting the dentist regularly to monitor the status of the dental implants. The placement of dental implants is considered an investment because it is very expensive so care should be ensured all the time.
Nice write up. As surgeries go this one has a very low rate of most listed in this article. But they are possibilities nonetheless.
Great points. Dental implants have revolutionized the world of dentistry. Each year, thousands of these procedures are carried out giving many people a crucial second chance. Therefore, it is important to make sure that your care is in the hands of a qualified surgeon. Before you sit on the chair, you need a good idea of the qualifications, experience and track record of the dentist.
how often to problems occur in an ideal periodontal setting?