What Problems Can Occur with Dental Implants?
As with any medical procedure, there are always risks to be considered. And even though dental implants are considered the most durable and natural-looking tooth replacement option available in modern dentistry, there are issues that patients should consider before electing the procedure. As a leading dentist in the 01915 zip code, Dr. Harry Strating has performed countless dental implant procedures for the Beverly, MA, community as a prosthodontics specialist. He’ll explain some problems that he factors into every procedure before beginning a dental implant in Beverly, MA. First, let’s look at why implants are considered the top choice in tooth replacement.
Benefits of a Dental Implant Versus Other Tooth Replacement
Although a patient may elect other tooth replacement options (such as a dental bridge or a partial denture), a dental implant is the only tooth replacement that can last a lifetime. Implants are natural-looking and have similar natural bite forces. Dr. Strating provides a range of dental implants to meet almost every patient’s needs, such as conventional dental implants, All-On-4®️ dental implants, and immediate load dental implants. As a group of cosmetic and restorative dental procedures, they also benefit from preventing bite collapse, which can change your face’s appearance and shape. Although problems with a dental implant procedure are rare, you should still consider them.
Infection and Poor Healing
Infection and healing times factor into every dental procedure, not just an implant procedure. Our dentist and team at Beverly Dental Group adhere to strict aseptic and sterilization techniques to always keep these concerns at bay. However, since the mouth is full of infection-causing bacteria, adhering to pre-treatment, in-treatment, and post-treatment instruction from Dr. Strating dramatically reduces your risk.
Other factors impacting healing include medical conditions such as gum disease and diabetes. That’s why a full pre-procedure assessment is required to identify any pre-existing conditions that could adversely affect successful healing without the worry of infection. The good news about infections and healing times is that the dentist can easily catch and treat them before placing the implant.
Placement of the Dental Implant
The surgical technique used by your prosthodontics specialist is critical to the procedure’s success. Since dental implants need to remain immobile for a prescribed length of time before the next phase of treatment to allow for osseointegration and integration, accurate placement of the implant is critical. We use the latest technology and state-of-the-art imaging equipment to ensure your placement is safe and effective for maximum osteointegration.
Inferior Bone Structure
Implants are the most durable tooth replacement option because the procedure involves permanently fusing the implant directly into the jaw bone. A successful implant relies on the patient’s bone volume and the osseointegration process.
If you’re missing bone volume in your jaw, our dentist can perform a bone graft as a part of the dental implant procedure. If your doctor determines that you need a bone graft, it will add time to your treatment period. In some extreme cases, having an inferior bone structure can prevent patients from being candidates for a dental implant. A dentist will recommend a dental bridge or partial denture as an alternative in such cases.
Complications from Medication
Certain medications can cause complications during the procedure. For example, certain drugs inhibit cell growth necessary for successful healing. Complete disclosure of all medications is essential to the success of your implant procedure. Our dentist may prescribe medication for infection and safe healing during the procedure. Signs of a dental infection include:
- Pain or fever
- Swollen or red gums
- Loosening of the implant
- Bad taste in the mouth
Medications used in our practice are time-tested and proven safe and effective. It is important to follow the medication directions closely to avoid complications. Please call us if you are a current patient and notice any of the above signs of dental infection.