Dental Implant Problems
Dental implants are a highly successful way to restore missing teeth in your mouth. Implants can be used to replace one tooth or even all of the teeth in your mouth with implant-supported dentures. Replacing missing teeth is beneficial to your overall health as well as the health of remaining teeth. Allowing a space to go unrestored can leave room for other teeth to shift and even become loose or fall out.
Having dental implants placed is a surgical procedure that is not without its risks. As with any surgery, implant placement can lead to potential problems such as infection, nerve damage, sinus issues, or implant failure. Let’s take a closer look at possible problems with dental implants.
Potential Problems With Dental Implant
Infection: Anytime an incision is made, there is a potential for infection. After implant placement surgery, your doctor will prescribe a round of antibiotics to help prevent infection at the site. Any medications prescribed by a doctor should be taken as directed and in full.
Loose implant and implant failure: After an implant is placed, it is left to heal for up to six months during which the implant will fuse to your jaw bone to provide the stability necessary for the restoration of the implant with an abutment and implant crown. If the implant fails to integrate, the implant may become loose at which point your doctor can remove the failed implant and potentially try again.
Nerve damage: If a dental implant is placed too close to a nerve, it can cause long-term numbness or pain. It is necessary to seek medical attention if you experience persistent pain, tingling, numbness, or a tickling or burning sensation in the gum or soft tissue.
Gum recession: Healthy gum tissue is vital to the success of the implant so if your gums begin to recede at the implant site, it is important to see your doctor for a possible gum graft to avoid losing the implant.
Sinus issues: Sinusitis can be a result of an implant protruding into the sinus cavity of the upper jaw. Symptoms you may experience include headache, toothache, tenderness or swelling at the eyes and cheeks and forehead, reduced sense of smell, bad breath, blocked nasal passages, and fever.
There are other potential issues that may not be as immediate as those listed above, one being peri-implantitis, a type of gum disease that develops due to chronic inflammation at the implant site. Peri-implantitis begins to show symptoms after five years or so and is indicated by bleeding or swelling around the implant. Another possibility is that your body will reject the implant and some patients suffer from metal allergies which can cause the implant to fail.
It is crucial to follow the postoperative instructions given to you by your doctor. Dental implants have a success rate of about 95%! Patients who may see a reduced rate of success include those who smoke, have existing gum disease, suffer from diabetes, or have had radiation therapy in their jaw.
If you have one or multiple missing teeth, speak with your dentist to determine if you are a candidate for dental implants.