Are tooth implants safe? The short answer is yes. But like with other dental procedures, especially those needing surgery such as tooth extractions, dental implant treatment carries risks that you should be aware of. The good thing is that these risks are both minimal and manageable with the right dentist and the care of experienced staff.
Before embarking on your dental implant journey, let us explain the potential risks and how we go the extra mile to guarantee your safety during and after the dental implant surgery.
Risks of Dental Implants
Dental implant treatment has been a choice for replacing missing teeth for over fifty years. For most patients who are in excellent health and follow the dentist’s instructions after placement of the implants, complications are considerably low. However, it’s essential to be aware of the potential risks of dental implant surgery.
Common problems encountered before, during, and after implant treatment are:
- Sinus infection – With an error in placement, the upper part of a dental implant could penetrate the maxillary sinus wall on either side of the nose. As a result, the implant could loosen or cause infection. If a dentist is concerned there is insufficient bone on the sinus floor, a sinus lift may be recommended to ensure sufficient space to properly stabilise the implant without penetrating the sinus membrane.
- Nerve damage – This may be temporary or permanent. It results from accidental nicking of the nerve during dental implant surgery. 3D scans carried out during the planning stage will identify the position of the nerves to enable the dentist to place the implant strategically.
- Infection – Improper sterilisation of materials or when the gum has not healed well after implant placement can lead to infection problems.
- Injury to surrounding teeth or soft tissue – Improper handling of instruments may cause accidental harm to the adjacent teeth or even trauma to the gums, lips, and inner cheek.
- Implant “rejects“ – While very rare, rejection occurs if the implant fails to fuse with the bone, such as if there is contamination on the implant surface or the dental implant surgery fails.
Dental implants are typically very predictable, so you should expect good results from the right team.
Prioritising Your Safety during Dental Implant Surgery
So, how are tooth implants safe with these risks?
At No Gaps Dental, we minimise and eliminate risks and complications by ensuring the appropriate planning and care before, during, and after the treatment. With this, the success rate for dental implant surgery remains high.
Thorough medical history assessment
Before we determine if you are an implant candidate, our dentist will ask about your general health status. It’s important to discuss any previous and present health conditions or if you are taking any medications. Generally, those with bone disorders, problems with wound healing, and other uncontrolled systemic illnesses may be deferred treatment. These conditions can affect the implant’s healing and pose risks to health.
Comprehensive dental examination
Aside from reviewing your general health, the dentist will examine the mouth and jaw. Uncontrolled gum disease or periodontal problems must first be treated to ensure proper integration of the dental implant with the bone. Also, it’s crucial to maintain good oral hygiene. This lessens the risk for infection and creates a favourable environment for better and proper healing after dental implant surgery.
A skilled and experienced dental team
Our reliable surgeons have the skillset, knowledge, and experience with dental implant restorations, so you can trust that any treatment will run smoothly. Extensive training enables them to perform the surgery with pinpoint accuracy and precision. Aside from our dental professionals, we also have dedicated staff that make patients feel at ease, informed, and involved during the procedure.
Step-by-step treatment planning
Careful and detailed treatment planning should never be overlooked as far as dental implant surgery is concerned. The process varies depending on a patient’s situation. Some may need pre-treatments such as bone grafting or sinus lifting. X-rays and 3D scans help our dental team plan every detail before surgery goes ahead.
Proper sterilisation protocols
At No Gaps Dental, we take extra steps to sterilise and disinfect our instruments, operating room, and equipment. This is important to prevent the spread of bacteria and avoid infection. We use high-level disinfectants and heat sterilisation between patients for our equipment and working environment. Single-use devices are never repurposed and are always correctly disposed of.
Stringent hygiene measures
Stringent hygiene measuresAside from our instruments, we ensure that cleanliness translates to our staff and dentists. There are designated areas for preparation, sterilisation, and storage.
Protective clothing is also worn and replaced for every treatment for optimum hygiene. We use a hand sanitiser with units spread across the clinic to limit pathogen transmission. Patients are also encouraged to use the hand sanitiser to keep our clinic clean and safe.
Are Dental Implants Worth It?
Yes, without a doubt! Any worries about the risks of receiving dental implants will diminish as our team assures you of high-quality safety standards. At No Gaps Dental, we will always prioritise you and your health every step of the way.
Despite the long journey, once you have dental implants, a beautiful smile is yours for many years to come.
Are Tooth Implants Safe? The Takeaway
Before committing to the dental implant procedure, talk to your No Gaps dentist. They will discuss your treatment plan and ease any worries with our strict health and safety standards, plus our comprehensive dental implant treatment planning.
Our hand sanitiser, disinfectants, protective gear, sterilisation measures, and highly experienced staff and dentists are just some of the many ways we can ensure tooth implants are safe despite the risks that may come with them.
Call us at (02) 8007 6727 to learn more about how we can help you complete your smile with a long-lasting and natural-looking dental implant restoration.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
PubMed – A retrospective study of the effects on sinus complications of exposing dental implants to the maxillary sinus cavity
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17257862/
JADA – Persistent pain after dental implant placement A case of implant-related nerve injury
https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177%2814%2960300-7/fulltext
Colgate – Signs of a Failed Dental Implant
https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/implants/signs-of-a-failed-dental-implant
PubMed – Bone physiology and metabolism in dental implantology: risk factors for osteoporosis and other metabolic bone diseases
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1288794/#:~:text=Common%20metabolic%20bone%20disorders%20affecting,a%20compromise%20in%20bone%20strength.
Oral Bio Med – Implants in the Medically Compromised Patient
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/154411130301400407
PubMed – Implant Maintenance: A Clinical Update
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4897104/