Dental implant surgery has a high success rate. But as with other procedures, complications may still develop afterward. If you are looking to get dental implants from your dentist in Powell, TN, it helps to know the potential challenges and the steps you should take to prevent them. This can help you achieve your desired outcome from the procedure.
Potential Complications from Dental Implants
Generally, it is rare to experience complications from dental implants. But they usually include the following:
- Osseointegration failure. An implant procedure is only successful when the implant completely bonds with your jawbone. This is known as osseointegration, which takes months to complete. This process can fail if your jaw does not have enough bone density or the implant is subjected to too much pressure. If osseointegration fails, your dental implant won’t have a stable foundation, which means it can become loose or may fall out completely.
- Nerve damage. Sometimes, a surgical procedure causes nerve damage. This can happen with dental implants if the nerve is exposed to the instrumentation. When not addressed immediately, nerve damage can be permanent. Thus, you must report any mouth numbness or serious pain to your dentist right away.
- Bacterial infection. Your mouth is home to many bacteria that may cause infection. The implantation site is vulnerable to bacterial invasion. When the surgical site becomes infected, you can experience pain and systematic symptoms such as chills or fevers. When an infection gets into your bloodstream, it can spread to other areas of your body.
Preventing Dental Implant Complications
If you are getting dental implants, ensure you know what happens during and after the operation. This way, you know what’s normal and what’s not.
After the procedure, your dentist will give you aftercare instructions. Ensure you follow these instructions seriously, keep the surgery site clean, and avoid eating foods as instructed by your dentist. In addition, ensure you examine the site based on the guidance given. Particularly, you must watch out for signs of infection like unusual redness, pus, pain, and swelling.
If you are suffering from a medical condition that impacts healing, like diabetes, ensure you manage it. Also, because tobacco can interfere with the implant site healing by depleting oxygen in your blood and irritating gum tissue, you must quit smoking before the implant procedure.
If you do not have the sufficient bone density for supporting a dental implant, your dentist can recommend that you get a bone graft to make your jaw stronger. After the graft, it takes months for your jawbone to gain enough strength to support your implant.
