Dental implants are a viable solution for people with missing teeth due to tooth decay, injury, or periodontal diseases. Dental implants are replacement tooth roots that provide a strong foundation for removable or fixed teeth which match your natural teeth. Dental implants are considered the standard of care when it comes to replacing missing teeth.
Dental implants bring about numerous advantages such as improved oral health, durability, improved speech, comfort, and easier eating just to name a few. However, dental implants do carry a certain degree of risk given that is a complex and invasive surgery. This guide aims to inform you if dental implants are safe. We talk about their risks and the safety precautions you should take if you are intending to get one.
Professional Dentist
If you wish to get dental implants, it is important that you seek professional medical advice from your dentist and that the procedure is performed by a professional dentist. The dentist can assess your gums, mouth, and teeth comprehensively and determine the level of surgery needed for the dental implant. Dental implants are placed in the jawbone and can bond with the natural bone. It can also become a sturdy base to support one or more teeth.
The dentist may therefore consider certain factors before deciding whether or not to perform the dental implant. Some factors that are taken into account include the patient’s preference, the patient’s health and pre-existing medical conditions, the location of the missing tooth or teeth, and the quantity and quality of the jawbone where the implant will be placed. Because of the invasive nature of the surgery, the dentist has to therefore consider numerous factors and plan well before performing the surgery.
There are numerous instances where patients have decided to go overseas for cheaper dental implants albeit at the quality of the dentists and medical care provided. These instances resulted in botched surgeries and exacerbated the condition of the patient’s teeth and gums instead of making it better. The more extreme scenarios even resulted in death and serious medical problems. It is thus important that you do not compromise on quality and seek a professional dentist who has years of experience and is highly regarded in the industry when performing dental implants.
Risks And Problems
Because dental implants involve surgery, there may be surgical risks and complications. Some of the potential complications include infections, bleeding, and allergies. There are also risks of nerve injury and damage to surrounding tissues. The most common problems faced by people after a dental implant surgery include headaches, jaw pain, and low-level infection. People may also be unable to eat well after the surgery and resume their daily lifestyle.
Dental Implant Failure
Most dental implant treatments are successful. Those that fail occur due to a dentist’s lack of training or a patient’s unwillingness to follow aftercare recommendations and routine maintenance. Some reasons why dental implant failure occurs are due to the development of gum disease after implant, not visiting the dentist regularly for preventive dental care, smoking shortly after the surgery, not maintaining good oral hygiene, having chemotherapy or other radiation treatments after the dental implant surgery. It is thus important to clarify all your queries and concerns with the dentist before and after the surgery and to follow the recommended aftercare treatment following the surgery. You should also regularly see the dentist for follow-up treatment and medical care after the surgery.