Dental Implant Complications

By Ian Kleine

Understanding the risk of dental implants is the same as understanding the benefits it gives. Of course, with every medical operation, there will always be a certain risk involved. There are no sure-fire ways, no tricks, no shortcuts and such. If one is to undergo a challenge, then one must face and understand the risks involved. Dental implants may be a minor operation, but they carry the weight of having risks as well.

Dental implants require that the patient should have the proper amount of bone in order for the implant to have sufficient anchorage. Without proper bone mass (or if your entire bone density is found to be lacking), you would have to consider other easier options first. Forcing dental implants even if it is not advised by your attending dentist could lead to severe catastrophic results. It is not really a big issue if the level of your bone density is but small. Bone graft procedures can make the necessary adjustments required for the implant to have a sufficient base. This is sometimes called as bone augmentation.

Careful consideration should be given to your habits as well, if we should declare a good chance for the reconstruction to work. The operation does not stop in the dentists chair, it still goes on after you carry on with your normal routine. When you are the type of person to place so much force in your tooth, the dentist should be immediately notified. Bruxers (or those suffering from bruxism, or teeth clenching) should notify their condition first hand. Clenching has a big impact on new implants and sometimes this would lead to the ultimate failure of the implant, leading to fracture, bone anchor loss or resorption and malformation of the implant.

A dentist's job for one patient should never be underestimated. There are a lot of factors to be considered when handling a patient's operation. The metal type of the implant, the length of the implant, the dimensions, the patterns on the thread, the smoothness or roughness, the materials and the SOP varies according to each patient. Commercial or personalized implants, your bone quality, quantity, mass and density; all of these data gets shared to your periodontist, orthodontist, endodontist, radiologist, and colleagues in the clinic or hospital.

Failure in implants are called incorrect osseointegration and usually happens due to unforeseen circumstances rather than the neglect of the medical personnel. This happens if the implant becomes mobile instead of staying fixed, if the implant is absorbed or the bone does not hold the implant. Peri-implantitis, or inflammation of the bone surrounding the implant happens too, leading to pain, tenderness and degradation and bone loss. Smokers are at a higher risk of failing if they do not quit during recovery time. Post operation check ups per month should be followed to allow your attending physician a good look at your teeth. - 29879

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