4 Common Dental Implant Problems and Side Effects

Dental implants are a common intervention utilized to support replacement for missing teeth. Most of the time, dental implants are made out of titanium and are commonly root-form endosseus implants, meaning they look highly similar to the root of the tooth.

Osseointegration, which refers to the bone jaw’s ability to fuse with the titanium, occurs after a few weeks of dental implantation. Although dental implants are typically safe, there can be a few dental implant problems one should address. Here are some of the most common problems and what you should do to prevent them.

1. Not enough bone mass. The success of a dental implant relies heavily on osseointegration, as what have already been mentioned. If the bone volume is too minute, it may result into the dental implant’s failure to osseointegrate with the bone properly. To prevent this, it is necessary that the bone volume is determined before the dental implant. If the bone volume isn’t enough, bone graft could be done to decrease the possibility of contracting various dental complications.

2. Infection. This is another dental implant problem that is typically caused by the patient’s poor oral hygiene. It may also be caused by several bad habits such as thumb sucking and teeth grinding. Infection will produce inflammation in the area, which generally manifests pain, redness, swelling and heat. When the area becomes inflamed, it may result in bone loss. As of today, infection is one of the most common causes why dental implants become rejected by the body.

3. Post surgery bleeding. Dental implantation is considered to be a surgery. Although bleeding is quite common after surgery, the amount of blood should be minimal and it should gradually decrease at the application of gentle pressure such as biting on gauze. However, if the bleeding lingers and may even be increasing in volume, you need to visit a hospital right away as it may be post surgery bleeding.

4. Damage to surrounding tissue. Different parts of the mouth may be damaged during the dental implant surgery. Oftentimes, the crown or the roots of the teeth nearby the area being drilled may be damaged. A root canal is typically done to repair the injury. Although it is one of the rarest dental implant problems, nerve injury could also occur during the surgery in the lower jaw. It is important to make use of computer tomography (CT) scans or X-ray to ascertain the specific location of the nerve and decrease the possibility of hitting it while drilling. If you have undergone lower jaw surgery, it is necessary to see a doctor when you feel pain and a tingling or a numbness found in your tongue, chin, teeth, lips or gums.

There are other complications and problems that might occur during and after the dental implant. The patient’s overall health should be assessed before the procedure is done. Any smoking habits and activities that may compromise oral health should also be stopped even before the surgery is done. Remember that dental implant problems can be avoided if you are vigilant and conscious of what you’re going to undergo.