Dental Implant Problems

A dental implant refers to permanent replacement of a missing tooth or a damaged tooth by an artificial tooth. The replaced tooth resembles and functions like a real tooth. In comparison to the several restorative options for tooth loss, such as dentures and bridges, dental implants are considered to be the most functionally effective and durable procedure. Advantages of the same include high aesthetics, stability, comfort, and convenience. Very often, dentists recommend dental implants in conjunction with another procedure to increase their effectiveness. Let's discuss in brief about the dental implant procedure and the possible dental implant complications.

Procedure Information

When speaking about the procedure for dental implant, it is performed in successive stages. The surgery involves safely placing the implant (made up of titanium) in a pre-drilled socket in the jawbone and fixing the abutment for support. The complete process may take somewhere about 2 - 3 weeks or as long as 3 - 9 months depending upon the implant type and general health of the jawbone. As per statistics, the success rate of dental implants over a five year study period is about 95 percent for lower jaw and 90 percent for upper jaw. Nevertheless, similar to other surgical procedures, some complications still exist with this dental surgery.

Problems and Complications

The dental implant procedure is performed for replacing one or many teeth. While it is considered to be a better alternative to other teeth restorative options, mild to moderate complications are reported by candidates who have received dental implants. In some candidates, the problems are related to rejection of the implants by the jawbone or they fail to osseointegrate with the jawbone. Following are some of the dental implant problems that may develop after completion of the process.

Peri-Implantitis
Peri implantitis is one of the major dental implant failure reasons. It is caused due to bacterial or other microbial infection at the surgery site. The symptoms are manifested as swelling and inflammation of the tissues that surround the dental implants. In severe cases, peri-implantitis may lead to gradual damage of the jawbone.

Tissue Injury and Damage
Like other invasive surgeries, dental implant procedure may cause injury and/or damage to the tissues in the adjacent area. It is reported as a common problem accompanied with dental implants. The affected area usually swells temporarily, which becomes normal within a few days. Proper care should be taken to prevent infection at the dental implantation site.

Loose Dental Implants
Loose implant is another complication that prospective candidates should be aware of. It results due to improper placement of the implant in the jawbone or if the implant fails to integrate with the jawbone. At times, the implanted artificial tooth made up of titanium may break at the site. If such is the case, replacement of the dental implant should be done as soon as possible.

Nerve Damage
Another dental implant problem is nerve damage at the insertion site. It is caused due to placement of the implant very close to the nerve or, at times, over the nerve. Nerve damage causes unbearable pain, particularly if the artificial tooth is positioned directly over the nerve. In such a case, the patient should report this to the concerned dentist immediately. The dentist may remove the implant (if necessary) and replace it.

Sinus Problems
Sinus problems after dental implants is often exhibited when the implantation procedure carried out is for the upper jaw. What happens in such a case is, the implant disturbs some of the sinus cavities, resulting in sinus related symptoms. To address this dental implant complication, the dentist may conduct the surgery again to replace the implant.

Dental Implant Failure
A rare cause for failure of this dental procedure is fixing of two teeth over one implant. Like the configuration of natural teeth, one tooth should be positioned over one implant to achieve satisfactory results. Also, the risk for failure is a bit higher amongst those who opted for immediate loading surgery (loading of the implant shortly after tooth extraction).

Aftercare Guidelines

• Within 1 - 2 days of the surgery, mild bleeding in the operated area is not an unusual case. For this, use a gauze pad over the affected site for 20 - 30 minutes.
• For candidates who have been through the dental implant procedure, adopting good oral hygiene is a prerequisite. Failure to do so increases the risk of infection at the surgery site.
• While chewing food, don't put pressure on the newly loaded implant. Increased stress may result in fracture of the abutment and broken implant screws.
• During the healing period and afterwards, avoid drinks containing caffeine and tobacco products. They not only stain the implants but also lengthen the recovery time.
• After the procedure, go for follow-up visits regularly or at least once in every 6 months. This is to ensure optimal functioning of the implants (like real teeth).

In order to get prompt results out of dental implant surgery, a prospective candidate should consult an experienced dentist about the pros and cons of the procedure. After the surgery, follow the necessary lifestyle changes in terms of diet, eating habits, and personal hygiene as prescribed by the concerned dentist. If dental implant problems are unbearable and/or persistent, then it is advisable to seek immediate medical attention so as to prevent further complications.