The dental implant industry is growing quickly and is set to reach a value of $6.7 billion worldwide by 2026. This is a climbing trend that parallels the consumption of processed foods and other commonly damaging substances. So, as tooth decay and tooth loss become more common, so do dental implants.
There are some people, however, that
are afraid of dental implant complications. This is with good reason, but
shouldn't cause too much worry. Most dentists provide consistent results with
patients.
Regardless, what are some of the
common complications of dental implants, and what can patients expect in terms
of pain after dental implant intervention? If you're curious, consider reading
ahead.
Common
Dental Implant Complications
There's a long list of complications
from dental implant surgery, but there are a few that appear quite
consistently. Two of them, being damage during procedure and improper
placement, are in the hands of medical professionals. The third, though, is up
to the body to decide. That is, a patient's body might reject an implant
entirely.
Damage
During Procedure
What does damage during a dental
implant procedure look like? Most of the time it involves nerve damage, sinus
damage, an infection, or some combination of the three. These are almost
unavoidable risks associated with dental implant surgery. Besides varying
levels of pain and tissue damage, these can also negatively impact the dental implant healing stages.
Improper
Placement
Improper placement occurs when a
dentist makes a mistake while placing or adjusting an implant. This can lead to
a wide variety of complications, and often defeats the purpose of the implant
in the first place.
A few millimeters of variation can
reshape the entire layout of a patient's teeth. So, it's important that medical
professionals keep an eye on placement during the procedure. When in doubt,
consider getting a second opinion.
Body
Rejection
Implants undergo a process of fusion
with the surrounding bone tissue, also known as osseointegration. An optimal
situation involves a secure grasp on the implant, and a strong structure that
serves as support for a crown.
The body can reject an implant,
though, and disrupt the process of osseointegration entirely. This is also
referred to as dental implant failure. It's also one of the most frustrating
complications of dental implants, as there's no work-around for neither
professionals nor patients. Proper osseointegration is decided entirely by the
patient's body.
Expectations
After Dental Implant Surgery
The possibility of dental implant
complications shouldn't shy patients that require intervention away from
scheduling a consultation with a dentist. While complications from dental
implant surgery might seem intimidating, almost all forms of surgical
interventions come with risks. Except for rejection by the body, the other
complications, like improper placement and damage during procedure, are in the
hands of the dentist.
Hopefully, this article provided
some key information on dental implant complications and risks. If it helped
guide you, consider reading some of the other posts on the site!
