Performed for several decades, dental implants are considered a safe and better procedure for replacing a missing tooth. When performed by qualified professionals, implants are very successful, especially for patients with good oral health.
Of course, just like a coin, a dental implant has two sides. Majorly, it is often successful, but there is a small degree of risks involved. Before a dentist recommends you for implants procedure, you have to pass certain eligibility criteria. This is to ensure lower chances of risks and increase the success rate.
If you are not eligible for surgery, your dentist will discuss other options that suit you. A patient who has sensitivity to titanium or any metal alloyed to titanium, such as zinc, iron, lead, nickel, or copper, will not be eligible for dental implants.
Am I Candidate for Dental Implants?
For you to qualify for safe dental implants, you need to have healthy gums and good health. Your level of oral hygiene should be high, and you should be cavity-free. It will also be a lot safer if you are a non-smoker.
To answer the question, are dental implants safe? We can say that, Yes, they are safe, but sometimes there are a few risks involved, which are often minor and easily treatable.
Implants offer a safer and better method of replacing missing teeth, and in so doing, they help prevent other teeth from drifting in an effort to fill in the spaces left. In addition, with a complete set of teeth, you will find it easy to maintain healthy oral hygiene.
When compared to other tooth replacement options, such as dentures, implants offer a far much better way of replacing teeth with artificial ones that have a customized fit to your mouth shape.
If you tick all the right boxes, it is very rare for you to experience any risks involved with dental implants. However, it is worth knowing the potential risks of implants.
What Risks and Problems Do Dental Implants Pose?
Just like any surgery, there are possible risks and complications that could occur with dental implants. Although rare, problems with implants are minor and easily fixable.
Keep in mind that implants are a complex procedure, and there are several phases involved for them to be termed successful. It can take up to six months for your gum to heal and implant to fully integrate with other teeth. Therefore, it is vital that you follow the treatment routine your dentist recommends, including regular appointments and checkups.
As you already may know, most implants are made of titanium metal. While titanium is a safe, biocompatible metal, it can experience corrosion, especially under extremely acidic environments such as inflammation. Also, under extremely acidic conditions, titanium may interact with other metals in your mouth through a process called galvanic corrosion. Therefore, if you have other metal inlays in your mouth or fillings, your dentist will discuss acidic things to avoid.
You can also develop an infection or damage some of the nerves connecting your teeth to your gum at the site of the implant. However, this mostly happens on gums that have not healed properly or completely. If an implant is placed on a site where a tooth was recently extracted, there may occur some infections, but these are easily treated.
People with diabetes, bone degradation, and cancer or people with poor immune system may not be ideal candidates for implants. It is always important that you be honest with your dentists and ask questions you may have regarding implants. We will talk about the questions you need to ask before getting a dental implant.
In a nutshell, here are the danger and risk factors involved;
- Infections
- Possible damage to nearby teeth, nerve endings, and blood vessels in the surgical site
- Sinus problems
- Implant rejection
- Potential allergies to implant materials
Obviously, the more experienced and knowledgeable the surgeon is, the less likely that the above complications can happen.
Dental Implant Questions to Ask Before Surgery to Confirm About Safety of the Procedure
What anesthesia will the dentist use, and how will it be administered?
There are different anesthesia options a dentist can use on a patient. The aim of this question is to know the state of art care of the dental clinic. Before an operation, the patient should be injected with local anesthesia for normal procedures. If the operation will be more involved, sedatives can be injected via IV placed in the hand or arm.
Will the dentist monitor vital signs of risks/problems?
After the injection of local anesthesia or sedation, surgical doctors need to be keen and monitor any unusual signs.
Which pain management method will be administered?
During an implant procedure, local anesthesia such as lidocaine is used to block pain. After the procedure, your dentist should prescribe a combination of different pain medications mixed with anti-inflammatory medications.
How long will the surgery take?
The procedure for inserting a single tooth implant can take less than 30 minutes. However, multiple teeth implants can take up to 1 hour, while full jaw implants could take 2-3 hours. It is important that you know the estimated timelines of the procedures to be mentally prepared.
Will I lose too much blood?
It is very rare to experience significant blood loss. Of course, there will be stains of blood, but they should not be alarming.
Is there a possibility of finding hidden inadequate bone density during surgery after having passed the normal bone density evaluation?
There are rare occasions when this can happen, and if they do happen, a stage bone grafting can be done to correct the problem. The aim of bone grafting is to hold off the implant placement in case of Osseointegration, or poor bond between the implant and the bone.
How many dental implants have you successfully conducted, and were there any cases of risks?
Your dentists should answer this honestly and give you their success rates with the procedure. You may need to look for reviews of previous patients to know if they are the better option for the procedure.
Final Thoughts: Are Dental Implants Safe or Not?
Dental implants have been successfully conducted for many decades, and with technological advancements and the invention of better devices to help with surgeries, it is now safer than ever. Implants remain the most reliable and best option to replace missing teeth.
The most obvious benefit of implants is that they replace teeth in a more natural, unnoticeable manner, and allow patients to go back to their normal life almost immediately after the procedure is over. In addition, they are durable, safer, and last a lifetime.
We can recommend them to anyone who wants their missing teeth replaced. Talk to an experienced dentist to learn more about its safety and benefits.
Published By:
Hagerstown Dentist
Hagerstown Location
1303 Pennsylvania Ave.
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Phone: (301) 200-9585
