Dental implants are metallic crowns used to replace missing and damaged teeth in human beings. These crowns appear and function just like real teeth, provided that they are installed and managed correctly. Implants have come as a better alternative to the traditional dentures and bridges that didn’t fit well. Also, the implants come in handy when a patient’s natural teeth lack roots for allowing the installation of dentures and bridges. Another significant benefit of using dental implants is that they offer substantial support to the neighboring teeth and the jawbone. But for this to happen, the jawbone and the gum need to heal properly around the implant.
But sometimes, the healing process doesn’t go as expected, and the patients end up developing complications after the surgery. Although most complications occur after the teeth replacement surgery, sometimes they can happen during the procedure. The possibility of in-surgery complications is especially likely if the medical professional doesn’t have the needed expertise, experience, and apparatus to do the job right. That is why you have to be very careful when you are looking for an oral surgeon to do teeth replacement. Some of the complications that arise from dental implants are minor, and others are quite complex. Here are some of the most common complications associated with dental implants.
Infection at the Surgical Site
Proper post-operative care is essential to prevent infections. A patient should avoid certain things to reduce the chance of an infection. For instance, they should avoid brushing the surgical site vigorously or rinse it because you might remove the clot and leave a dry socket, which is prone to bacterial infections. We have prepared a guide to help our patients with post-operative care here.
Nerve Damage
Although it is less common than bacterial infection, injuries to the section of the nerve commonly referred to as trigeminal nerve do happen. The damage to the nerve causes numbness, tingling sensation, and pain in the lower lip, gum, teeth, chin, and tongue.
Damage to Neighboring Structures
When the surgeon is extracting the damaged tooth or drilling the jawbone for the placement of a dental implant, they may cause injuries to the neighboring structures, including other teeth, gum, and blood vessels. These unintended damages can cause infections and affect the healing process. That’s why you always have to look for a qualified and experienced oral surgeon to perform the teeth replacement procedure. A little research will help you find the best surgeon.
Get Advice From a Professional
The strongest piece of advice we can give is to ask plenty of questions. Familiarize yourself with how a dental implant procedure works. We invite you to contact our office for a consultation and find out how you can have a trouble-free dental implant experience.