Possible Dental Implant Complications And Solutions

Posted on: 22 December 2014

For many people, dental implants are a great way to replace missing teeth. If you are planning to have dental implant surgery at a clinic like Village Family Dental, your surgeon will discuss the possible risks associated with the surgery before conducting it. The risk of complications is low, but it is important that you are aware of what could happen and how you and your surgeon can handle them.

Infection

Infection is always a risk with any type of surgery. Infection can cause swelling, pain, and dental implant failure. Even though the risk of infection is relatively small, it could still happen if you do not closely follow the surgeon's instructions following the procedure.

To avoid infection, your surgeon will prescribe an antibiotic for you to start taking prior to the procedure. Once at home, it is imperative that you brush and floss on a regular basis. In the first few days following the procedure, this might prove more difficult, so your surgeon might recommend the use of a prescription strength mouthwash to help keep your mouth free of harmful bacteria. 

Overloading 

Overloading occurs when the surgeon places the implants before your jawbone is actually ready to support it. The implants place stress on the jawbone and gums which can hinder the ability of the implant to fuse or integrate with the jawbone. When this happens, the implant is considered a failure. 

There is nothing that you can do to prevent this. However, your surgeon can. He or she can put off the implant until your jawbone is ready to support the implant. Although this could leave you without teeth until for a few months, it is important that you wait. 

Sinus Problems

Dental implant surgery can impact your sinuses. If your jawbone is not strong enough to support your implants, your surgeon can opt for a procedure in which additional bone is grafted to the existing bone. In order to get enough room for this procedure, your existing bone is move into the area of your sinus cavity.

Even though the graft now has the room needed, your sinus could become infected. As a result, you could have constant sinus problems. This is more likely to occur if you already suffer from sinus problems. A simple way to avoid this problem is to be upfront with your surgeon. If you have existing sinus problems, inform him or her. The surgeon can look for other ways to shore up your bone.

With the right care, your implants will not fail. Be on the lookout for complications and inform your surgeon of them immediately.

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