Can Your New Dental Implants Fail?
Dental implants are titanium posts surgically embedded into the jawbone to support an artificial tooth. After undergoing dental implant procedures, a restorative dentist or oral surgeon mounts an artificial replacement tooth onto the implant.
The success rate of dental implants is incredibly high, but some people might experience dental implant failure. Estimates state that about 5 to 10 percent of implants can fail shortly after the procedure or months or years later.
If you are scheduled to undergo dental implant surgery or already have an implant, here is what you need to know about early implant failure and other complications.
Factors Impacting Dental Implant Success
Various aspects can impact the success of dental implants. They are gum disease, smoking, inadequate jawbone, medical conditions, poor oral hygiene, and an inexperienced surgeon. Therefore during your consultation, you must inquire about the surgeon’s experience, the number of implant placements they have completed in a year, and their success rate with implant placements.
What Are Dental Implants Procedures?
The procedures for dental implants involve planning by a surgeon when the professional completes a thorough examination of your mouth to evaluate the health of your gums and jawbone. The surgeon assesses your overall health by taking dental x-rays that provide clues to whether implant placement will succeed or not.
The planning stage also involves understanding your medical history, considering any medical conditions besides the medications you take. Without proper planning, a surgeon may proceed with implant placement even if you are unsuitable for them. The lack of planning can cause improper implant placement besides stress at the implant site resulting in the growth of aerobic bacteria triggering infections or an abscess.
Proper planning is crucial because it allows your surgeon to identify issues that might interfere with implant placement. For example, you might need a sinus lift before getting dental implants to ensure success. When looking for an experienced surgeon, make plenty of inquiries talking to friends or family members who have dental implants and ask for recommendations. Alternatively, consider dental implants in Gillette, WY, to get your implants.
How Safe Are Dental Implants?
As tooth replacement solutions, none can beat the safety and durability of dental implants. After getting the dental implants embedded into your jawbone by the dentist in Gillette, WY, you merely need to ensure you follow the dentist’s instructions to maintain the replacement solution appropriately by quitting any harmful habits that prove a deterrent for the placements. Dental implants are highly successful in most patients except for a few with a success rate of 98 percent. Therefore the safety of dental implants remains undisputed.
New Dental Implant Failure and Problems
Problems with new dental implant placement can occur shortly after the procedure or years later. Early dental implant failures occur within the initial three months after the process. Remember that you will experience some degree of pain after implant placement which is manageable by pain relievers. However, if the pain doesn’t subside or improve after around a week, discuss your situation with your dentist. You need at least three to six months to heal from dental implant surgery. Pain and swelling are common after any surgical procedure. However, you must watch out for any complications that might develop. They are:
Implant Site Infections
Implant site infections can develop during or after your surgical procedure. Having an autoimmune disease, smoking, and poor oral hygiene are primary risk factors for infections.
Implant Micro-Movements
When the dental implant embedded lacks stability, micro-movements can occur if you have an immediate tooth placed. Generally, the artificial tooth is not attached to the implant unless your jawbone has integrated with the titanium post. However, surgeons provide immediate artificial tooth placements immediately after implant surgery for aesthetic purposes. The technique requires fewer visits to the dental office but puts additional stress on the implant leading to failure.
Inadequate Bone Support
New implant failure also occurs with inadequate bone to support the implant. If your surgeon completes implant placement and you don’t have adequate bone, the implant doesn’t fuse with your jawbone.
Allergic Reactions
Sometimes you might develop allergic reactions to titanium alloy. Symptoms of the allergy include loss of taste, swelling, and a tingling sensation. If you are allergic to titanium, mention your situation to the oral surgeon before undergoing implant placement surgery. In such cases, dentists provide implants containing different materials.
Failure to Adhere to After-Care Instructions
The placement of dental implants in your mouth doesn’t indicate the end of the process. It is merely the beginning of another method that requires you to follow your dentist’s after-care instructions diligently. You must practice excellent oral hygiene, stay on a diet of soft foods until the implant site heals, and avoid hard Candy.
If you are considering dental implants and are concerned about new dental implant failure, we suggest you contact Mountain West Dental to have your replacement teeth after a comprehensive evaluation and planning for the procedure.