Missing teeth can negatively impact your physical and mental health. Not only do gaps in your teeth make you reluctant to speak and smile, but you can also experience bone resorption and tooth misalignment.
Although many tooth replacement options exist, including dentures and bridges, only dental implants offer a permanent solution to missing teeth. Dental implants provide numerous benefits, including improved dental health and aesthetics. However, as with any medical procedure, there are also some risks.
Dental implant risks and benefits can vary depending on several factors, such as your general health and oral hygiene routine. However, the benefits of dental implants far outweigh the risks, making them an excellent option for those looking to improve their smile.
Dental Implant Risks And Benefits: Advantages of Dental Implants
Dental implants are surgically embedded in your jawbone, which anchors the implant and provides a stable foundation for the restoration. This gives dental implants many advantages over other teeth replacement options, like:
Stabilises Jawbone
Dental implants are the only teeth replacement option that helps to preserve and stabilise jawbone density. When you lose a tooth, the bone around it begins to deteriorate and reabsorb into the body. Other teeth replacement options, such as dentures and bridges, do not stimulate the jawbone to sufficiently promote osteogenesis.
Enhanced Aesthetics
Dental implants look and feel like your natural teeth. The implant post is firmly attached to the jawbone and acts like a tooth root, while the restoration is crafted from tooth-coloured porcelain, zirconia, or composite, which have the same shading and lustre as your remaining teeth. This makes them much more aesthetically pleasing than other options, such as dentures.
Improved Speech and Chewing
Unlike other tooth replacement options, dental implants are securely anchored in your mouth. This means you can speak and chew with complete confidence without worrying about your teeth shifting, slipping, or falling out.
Long-Lasting Durability
Dental implants are made to last a lifetime. With proper care, dental implants have a 95% survival rate after 10 years; however, approximately 80% of restorations need to be replaced after 20 years. This makes them a much more cost-effective solution in the long run than other options, such as dentures, which must be replaced on average every 10 years.
Dental Implant Risks and Benefits: Potential Complications
Although dental implants are a safe and effective teeth replacement option, there are some potential risks and complications associated with dental implant surgery. These include:
Nerve Damage
In rare cases, the alveolar nerve running through your lower jaw may be damaged during dental implant surgery; typically, if the implant post is too long or the drill penetrates the jawbone too deeply. This can cause numbness, tingling, and loss of feeling in your lower lip and chin. While this is not a life-threatening condition, it can be uncomfortable.
Protrusion into the Sinus Cavity
Another rare complication that can occur during dental implant surgery is sinus protrusion. If the implant protrudes into your sinus cavity, it can cause pain and pressure in your sinuses and difficulty breathing. In some cases, the implant may need to be removed to relieve the symptoms of sinusitis.
Bone Deterioration
In some cases, the bone around the dental implant may begin to deteriorate. This is often due to overloading or immediately loading the implant rather than waiting for osseointegration to complete. However, it may also be due to active gum disease or an abscess that can damage the bone tissue. Deterioration can cause the implant to become loose and eventually fall out.
Peri-implantitis
This is a bacterial infection that can occur around the dental implant. Symptoms include pain, redness, and swelling around the implant. If left untreated, peri-implantitis can cause bone loss and the implant to fail.
Allergic Reaction
While titanium is highly biocompatible, in rare cases, patients may have an allergic reaction to the metal alloys used in dental implants, which often contain nickel or chromium. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include swelling, redness, and itching around the implant site.
Dental Implant Risks And Benefits: How Can Available Dental Care Reduce the Risks of Dental Implant Surgery?
However, technology has come a long way in recent years, and there are now dental techniques and technology that significantly reduce the risk of complications from dental implant surgery. At Available Dental Care, we offer patients Cone Beam CT scanning. It can guide implant placement, leading to fewer complications and a quicker recovery time as it allows for greater accuracy and less time in the dental chair.
In cases where there is insufficient bone for dental implants, we also offer stem cell technology and guided bone regeneration. They can be used to improve jaw and gum health and create a stable foundation for dental implants.
Get a Free Consultation at Your Local Dental Clinic in Campbelltown
If you’re looking for a dentist that offers a free consultation, look no further than your local Campbelltown dental clinic. At Available Dental Care, we offer a free initial consultation so that you can learn more about dental implants and find out if they are the right treatment for you.
To restore your smile, call us today at (02) 4062 8763 to schedule a free dental consultation near you.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Peri-Implantitis and Protecting Your Dental Implants
https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/implants/peri-implantitis-and-your-dental-implants
Influence of exposing dental implants into the sinus cavity on survival and complications rate
https://journalimplantdent.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40729-019-0157-7