Possible complications with dental implant fittings

In the vast majority of cases, no complications will arise when a dental implant is fitted. An experienced dental surgeon will know what choices to make to avoid potential complications as much as possible, so a properly handled dental implant fitting tends to involve less pain and inflammation than a simple tooth extraction.

Although they are all relatively rare, a quick overview of the possible complications is provided below.

Infections

The most frequent complications involved with dental implants are infections, and these are usually a result of the patient’s poor dental hygiene. A patient who doesn’t brush their teeth and doesn’t use dental floss every day will be at a higher risk of infection. It’s worth bearing in mind that an infection can lead to the dental implant failing to fit properly. That’s why it’s important to follow the instructions of the dentist, following the surgery. Smokers need to be particularly vigilant.

Lesions

It’s possible that the surgery will cause lesions and injuries to the muscles and adjacent nerves, or to the sinus cavity. However, such damage is very rare when the surgery is carried out by an experienced dentist.

Failure of Osseointegration

Osseointegration is the process by which the dental implant fuses with the jawbone, forming one structure. Sometimes the implant doesn’t fuse properly with the bone, usually because of a lack of bone density where it was inserted.

This failure is rare, as the dental surgeon would have taken care at the start of the process to analyze the jawbone density, and would have carried out a bone graft if the density was insufficient.

Rejection of the dental implant by the body

Dental implants are made of titanium, the only metal that is bio-compatible i.e. tolerated by a living organism. This means that the body reacts to the implant as if it’s a real tooth root. However, in rare cases, the implant must be removed due to a failure of osseointegration. This isn’t technically a rejection, as the implant isn’t a living tissue. Once healing is complete, the implant can be replaced with a new one.

Contact-us if you have any questions regarding dental implants.