If you have lost teeth at any point in your adult life, then you might have dental implants. Dental implants are wonderful creations that can replace missing teeth using fully functional, realistic looking false teeth. This is a miracle for some people as it helps them to feel confident with their smile once again. While dental implants are commonly used and are known for their long lasting durability, there are some complications that might occur later down the line. Like teeth, dental implants can be worn down and will need the proper care. Luckily, there are ways to avoid dental implant complications.
How to avoid dental implant complications
- Properly clean and maintain the health of your mouth and dental implants by flossing and brushing with quality toothpaste several times a day.
- Make sure you have a consultation with a skilled dentist prior to getting implants created and placed! The skill of your oral surgeon will play a big role in the placement and overall success of your implant.
- Be aware of the placement of your dental implant(s). Try not to cause them too much stress. Although they do act like natural teeth, there is a healing process and you should avoid chewing hard, sticky or overly chewy foods with your implants until they are fully healed.
- Follow the dentist’s instructions carefully after having implants placed! These may differ from patient to patient, but it’s essential that you follow the specific instructions given to you by your dentist.
- Ask your dentist if they plan on increasing the bone volume before placing the implant.
- If you notice a change in placement or an infection after you have dental implants put in, contact your dentist immediately.
When you care for your dental implants enough to properly maintain them and you see a dentist that has many years of experience with dental implant placement as Dr. Mocrae does, you can avoid a majority of the possible complications. Often times, the worst of the complications are short term. This includes poor healing, infection, and implant movement due to a loss of bone volume. A dentist can help fix all of these issues if you make an appointment right away. Nevertheless, if you carefully follow your specialist’s aftercare instructions, then your dental implant should heal well.
Long term complications with dental implants consist of growing bacteria pockets under the implant due to added stress and pressure. A dentist can do their best to fix the situation as long as it is caught in time. Most of the time, this complication occurs because the implant was placed poorly or there wasn’t enough bone volume to significantly hold the implant securely. While the possibility of suffering from some complications is there, dental implants have a wonderful success rate and rarely are complications an issue.