Problems with your dental implants can arise for a number of reasons. Here, we’ll list some of most common, and guide you through how to respond.
In the United States, over 3 million people have dental implants, and every year 500,000 surgeries are performed.
Dental implants have gained popularity in the last few years due to the many benefits they offer. These dental implants look and feel like real teeth and can help people smile again.
However, like any procedure, they can sometimes create problems for the patient. Read on to learn about the most common dental implant problems and why they happen
Dental Implants 101
As the name suggests, dental implants act as artificial tooth roots and provide a solid base for replacement teeth. Unlike other solutions such as crowns, bridges, or dentures, dental implants are a long-term solution.
For people who experience chronic dental problems or have missing teeth, dental implants can make them feel more comfortable regain their confidence. Because dental implants feel like regular teeth, most people forget about them once they have fully healed.
Dental implants feel secure due to the process and materials used during the surgery. Your dentist will use medical-grade titanium, which will fuse into your jaw bone. Once the titanium has healed, the dentist will add the prosthetic tooth.
Because of the many benefits, dental implants have increased in popularity:
- Improved speech
- Durability
- Comfort
- Convenience
- Improves eating
- Increases self-esteem
Schedule a consultation with your dentist to see if you’re an ideal candidate for dental implants.
Reasons People Experience Issues with Dental Implants
While most dental implant surgeries don’t experience any issues, there are always exceptions. In some cases, lifestyle and medical conditions can affect the success of the dental implant.
Smoking
If you’re a smoker, you’re more likely to delay the healing process. Because smoking restricts the blood flow to your gums, you’re at risk of implant failure.
You have a 20 percent chance of dental implant failure if you are a smoker. For this reason, your dentist will advise you to stop smoking.
Gum Disease
Before your dentist performs dental implant surgery, they will have to ensure you have healthy gums. Patients with severe gum disease are not great candidates for dental implants.
If you don’t treat the gum disease, the infection will build around the implant and lead to implant failure.
Insufficient Jaw Bone
Although your dentist will ensure you have a sufficient and healthy jaw bone before performing the surgery, bone loss can still happen.
If you have osteoporosis, for example, your bone density will decrease. This condition leaves your bones fragile.
Poor Dental Health
You will have more success with your dental implant if you take good care of your dental health. Practicing daily oral hygiene will lessen your chances of having issues with your dental implants.
Medical Conditions
Certain medical conditions that slow the body’s natural healing process can also lead to implant failure.
Rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes, for example, slow down the body’s healing process.
Common Complications from Dental Implants
As we mentioned before, several factors can lead to dental implant problems. These complications usually happen during the healing process, which is why you need to stay alert.
It’s essential you monitor these complications and contact your dentist to ensure the dental implant continues to heal properly.
Poor Healing and Infection
Although it might seem like a dental procedure, having dental implants put in is surgery. You will need to treat dental implant aftercare like you would with any surgery.
Following the surgery, it’s common for you to experience swelling, pain, and discomfort in the first few days. However, if you continue to experience pain, it’s a sign, there’s something wrong with the healing process.
If you experience an infection after the surgery, it could be due to failure to follow post-surgery instructions.
During the surgery, your dentist will use sterile and aseptic instruments, to decrease the chance of infection. However, your mouth is a haven for bacteria, and this increases your chances of infection. On average, your mouth is home to about 20 billion bacteria.
It’s important you follow post-care instructions to avoid getting an infection.
Loose Implant and Micromovement
To ensure proper healing, your dental implant should remain in place to fuse to the bone correctly. If the implant shifts during the healing process, you will have an unstable implant.
For the first 8 to 12 weeks, you should remain vigilant to any micromovement. Otherwise, the implant won’t fuse to the bone, and soft-tissue ingrowth will fuse instead. If this happens, you might need the dentist to fix the problem surgically.
Follow the diet recommended by your dentist to avoid the implant from moving around. Your dentist might recommend a liquid or soft food for the first few weeks to ensure proper healing.
Excess Space
If an inexperienced dentist performs the surgery, there’s a risk that the implant will not be the correct size. When the implant doesn’t match your original tooth, you run into some issues.
When there’s a lot of space between your implant and your tooth, food can get stuck. You will have to be extra careful cleaning the area; otherwise, it can lead to cavities and other issues.
However, excess space is not that common, especially at Dr. Dino Mantis‘ office. Getting an experienced dentist in restorative, cosmetic dentistry
is the best way to ensure nothing goes wrong with your dental implants.
Dental Implant Infection Signs
If you experience a dental complication due to your implants, it’s crucial you pay attention to the dental infection signs. Dental infections can result in bone loss, implant failure, or more if left untreated.
Signs of dental implant infection include:
- Fever and aches
- Bad taste that doesn’t go away
- Pus
- Bleeding from the gums
- Difficulty chewing
- Loose implant
- Swollen gums
Contact your dentists right away if you experience any of these issues with your dental implants.
Prevent These Common Dental Implant Problems
Now that you know about these common dental implant problems, you will be more educated if you or someone you know needs dental implants. Your chances of experiencing issues with your dental implants decrease when you find an experienced and certified doctor.
Remember, the chances of experienced dental implant problems go up when the patient doesn’t follow medical instructions, develop underlying conditions, or not experience the dentist.
Do you want to learn if dental implants are the right choice for you? Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
