When you’re missing a tooth, you might assume it’s not a big deal. However, your teeth shift over time, which can negatively affect your bite. That’s why you have to deal with this problem as soon as possible. It may be why you’re here; you started thinking about your options and wondered if dental implants are safe. Before we go into detail about the procedure’s safety, we will to go through the procedure itself.

The Three Steps of a Dental Implant

Dental implants are popular tooth replacements that are surgically placed into your jawbone, where they play the role as the root of a missing tooth. The implants are made from titanium, so they can’t slip, cause bone damage, or make noise. Moreover, the titanium has higher endurance than regular bridgework, and is more resistant to decomposition or rot.

The procedure consists of a few steps. The first step can be different; you may be starting this procedure with a missing tooth or a bad tooth. If you have a bad tooth, the first step is to remove it. If you’re missing one, then this step is skipped.

Next comes the placement of a bone graft into the tooth’s socket. This step requires a few months to heal, so when the graft is placed, collagen membrane is set up over it so the site doesn’t close.

The final step is the implant placement, which is nearly painless. This step requires a bit more time to heal completely. The implant is tested after the healing period to determine whether your body and the surrounding bone successfully accepted it. Once this is confirmed, a prosthetic component is connected to the dental implant.

• Step 1: Remove the Tooth
• Step 2: Bone Grafting
• Step 3: Implant Placement

As you can see, dental implantation is a serious surgery, and finding a dentist that specializes in this type of surgery is vital for success.

Who and Why Should One Get Dental Implants?

Dental implants are safe for just about everyone, but to be a good candidate, you should meet the following “conditions”:

• If you have a missing tooth (or teeth)
• If you have healthy oral tissues
• If you have a jawbone that has reached full growth
• If you’re willing to commit yourself to the healing process

Implant placement takes months to complete, so it’s important for someone wanting the procedure to be fully dedicated to the steps before and during the process.

Dental implants don’t only replace a missing tooth. They have an impact on:

• Appearance
• Speech
• Comfort
• Overall Oral Health

The Success Rate of Dental Implants

As with any surgery, there’s always a level of risk. The good news is that dental implants have an average success rate of nearly 100%.

One of the main causes for complications is due to bacteremia development. Sometimes bacteria can infect the implant itself, leading to induction of the implant site and its surrounding areas. That’s why it’s essential to do an overall dental health check before placing the implants. Once the infection is treated, you become a good candidate for the dental implant procedure.

Other Risk Factors for Dental Implant Failure

Dental placement surgery is safe, but it is surgery after all, so it is inevitable to list some risk factors that can trigger failure:

Poor Oral Hygiene
Oral hygiene is important in general, not just related to implants. But in this case, it’s extremely important because most side effects occur if oral hygiene is poor. It leads to bacteria building up on the artificial tooth affecting the gums around it, triggering many infections. Those infections can spread into the area around the implant, which can cause the procedure to fail.

Uncontrolled Diabetes
For people with diabetes, healing takes a little longer. This makes these individuals more susceptible to infections and surgical risks. When diabetes is adequately controlled, people with diabetes have a high success rate.

Lack of Bone Support
Sometimes there’s not enough bone to secure an implant. If a dentist overlooks this and proceeds with the surgery, results can be poor. But with the right dentist and detailed examination, the dentist will be aware of any issues and suggest other solutions.

Physical Trauma
If you have had an implant inserted and it’s still in the healing process, and you bit down on something hard, it may have dislodged the implant. Or, if you have had any accidents around the mouth area, it can increase the risk of implant failure.

Foreign Body Rejection
In rare cases, your body can reject the implant(s). Sometimes your immune system reacts to this “foreign object” and rejects it.

It is essential to prepare for dental implant surgery. Post-surgery is also important, so following the instructions of your dentist is crucial for success. We have performed thousands of dental implant surgeries, and our dentists will take the time to consult with you to make sure you are a good candidate for the procedure.

Signs and Symptoms of Failed Implant placement

After you’ve had the implant surgery, some level of swelling and discomfort is normal. If surgery is successful, these signs should go away after a couple of weeks. But if the signs don’t go away, that can indicate failed dental implantation. Those signs can be:

Pain and Swelling in the Implant Area
This is common after the surgery, but if you practice good oral hygiene (by not smoking, drinking, etc.) you should be okay.

Gum Recession
This happens when the tissue around the teeth pulls away from the teeth.

Implant Movements
If the surgery was a failure, then you might have a feeling as if the implants are moving when you bite and chew. This is sometimes accompanied by discomfort and pain.

If you can relate to any of the listed symptoms, you need emergency dental care as soon as possible. We offer this type of care at our clinic, and we can immediately help get rid of your pain and discomfort and restore your oral health. We can sometimes even get you in on a Saturday!

Final Thoughts

Careful planning, as well as working with a great dentist can help you avoid potential problems, and help ensure a successful dental implant surgery. With dental implants, you can eat all your favorite food and smile confidently, knowing your smile is looking its best!

Dental implants are compatible with most people. However, you should go over everything with your dentist because you may be sensitive to specific implant materials that are made from other metal fillings in your mouth. Schedule a call with our team today, and let’s go through your options together.