Serving patients of Erwin, Jonesborough, and Greeneville TN
A lost tooth can damage your health as well as undermine your self-confidence. Eventually, the teeth next to a lost tooth will begin shifting out of alignment, which may cause your teeth not to fit together comfortably. Additionally, a malocclusion, also known as a crooked bite, can wear down your teeth and put stress on your jaw. Immediately following tooth loss, new issues may arise. A common long-term replacement for lost teeth is dental implants, which have several oral health benefits. From restoring bite function to preventing jawbone loss and having a natural appearance, dental implants are the best solution for replacing missing teeth. Nevertheless, receiving a dental implant carries dangers, like any medical procedure. Therefore, our Greeneville implant dentists at Tusculum Dental Care share five potential risks associated with dental implants so that you can make an informed decision about your oral health.
-
Infection
Infections can occur following dental implant surgery. In addition to posing a major danger to your health, this also increases the likelihood that the entire course of therapy may fail. An infection might cause the implant to fail to fuse with the jaw bone. If you adhere to your dentist’s post-operative recommendations, the risks of infection and dental implant failure are significantly reduced.
-
Implant Rejection
Another danger is that your body will reject the implant, which commonly happens when the implant is not placed properly, the patient is not a good candidate for implants, or the patient fails to take good care of the implant.
-
Sinus Problems
When implanted in the upper jaw, dental implants have the potential to encroach into the maxillary sinus cavity, and in some situations, this encroachment may be the result of a placement mistake. An expert dentist will use a panoramic dental X-ray to arrange the placement of the dental implants and identify any potential sinus issues.
-
Implant Failure
Dental implants can fail for a variety of reasons, including poor oral hygiene, poorly managed chronic conditions like diabetes, physical damage, and the failure of osseointegration, where the post fuses to the jawbone. Bone grafting can assist in preventing implant failure when the bone fails to hold the implant in place. Bone density should be sufficient for a dental implant to stay firmly in place.
-
Nerve Injury
Dental implants are surgically inserted deep inside the jaw bone. Nerve damage might occur during drilling, or a nerve can be crushed by the implant itself. The nerve that is most frequently hurt during dental implant surgery is the trigeminal nerve, which is situated at the side of your head just in front of your ear, and runs through the jaw joint and into the mandibular jawbone (lower jaw).
How can the risks be avoided?
Even though there are some risks associated with a dental implant procedure, no matter your oral health status, some risks can be avoided. First, if you select our skilled Erwin implant dentists to do the surgery, the dangers of receiving a dental implant are significantly decreased. Second, practicing good oral hygiene every day and regularly visiting our office for checkups and cleanings can reduce the likelihood of bacterial damage. Third, smoking slows your body’s ability to heal and can interfere with the osseointegration process and cause an implant to fail, so it’s necessary to stop smoking if you need dental implants. Lastly, patients should follow all post-op care instructions to minimize the risks.
Dental Implants in Greeneville, Jonesborough, and Erwin, Tennessee
Even though the above potential risks exist, they are minimal, and most can be eliminated with regular oral care. For example, 98% of patients experience a smooth implant procedure and healing process. So, if you’ve been contemplating dental implants, contact our Jonesborough implant dentists at Tusculum Dental Care to schedule a consultation to ensure you’re a qualified candidate for dental implants. Please call our office at (423) 639-7575 or contact us online to schedule an appointment today.