Compared to many other medical or dental treatments, dental implants have a very strong track record. They are known to be a very reliable option for replacing missing teeth. Yet, despite this high success rate, complications can still arise. While some issues stem from inadequate post-operative care, others result from procedural missteps, highlighting the potential problems with dental implants. Therefore, understanding the risks, including the dangers of dental implants, is essential for making an informed decision.
Although dental implant surgery is a popular solution for tooth loss, it is not suitable for everyone. Though rarely, it can lead to long term side effects or even dental implants failure. This article explores potential risks, success rates, and recovery aspects while assuming implants offer significant benefits, there are also negative aspects of dental implants that should be known.
With dental implants revolutionizing tooth replacement, they have become the preferred choice globally. However, concerns remain among patients, especially regarding the worst part of dental implant experiences and potential trouble with dental implants. If you’re considering this procedure and have doubts about potential complications, this article will help you to have a better, informed decision.
About the dental implants in Turkey
Dental implants are cylindrical metal parts, typically titanium, surgically inserted into the jawbone.
The operation consists of three-steps. First, the dentist checks the patient's overall oral health and jawbone shape. If all of the health requirements are met, the procedure can start. The dentist surgically places a metal, typically titanium, cylindrically-shaped part into the jawbone, just like an artificial root. That is the implant.
Next, a connecting part, or abutment, is fixed at the end of the post which sticks above the gums. Lastly, the artificial tooth, also known as a crown, is placed on the abutment. This helps it look and function just like a real tooth.
Implants and crowns are a great way to improve your oral health. They look and function just like real teeth. Not like dentures or bridges that you take out, implants keep artificial teeth steady. How? Well, it's all thanks to a metal called titanium. It mixes well with the body and helps to keep your jawbone strong and dependable for a long time.
Is a dental implant placement painful?
Typically, dental implant procedures involve a painless treatment for the patient due to the locally applied anesthesia. Dentists may also give sedatives to patients to lower their anxiety. Even though the procedures are painless, patients can feel pressure and vibrations on their gums due to the medical tools involved.
When the effects of the anesthesia wear off, patients can feel discomfort, which is very natural. The ache usually lasts for 24-48 hours before the discomfort completely subsides. Common symptoms after the operation include tenderness, swelling, minor bruising, and slight bleeding. The level of discomfort depends on how complex the procedure had been. Also pain tolerance, and the quality of aftercare of the patient would affect the outcome.
Common dental implant problems
Although dental implants are a reliable solution for missing teeth, there are, of course, some minor risks that can occur with any medical treatment. Some patients may experience issues with their newly placed dental implants, ranging from mild discomfort to serious complications. Problems with dental implants can arise due to improper healing, infections, or the body's rejection of the implant. The risks of dental implants include issues such as infections in the implant area, nerve damage, or, in very rare cases, complete rejection of the implant.
Specifically, All-on-6 dental implants problems and denture implant problems may affect long-term success. Other concerns include the negatives of dental implants, such as cost and recovery time. This section explores side effects of dental implants, dental implant infection, and signs of dental bone graft failure.
Infection and poor healing
Infections and inadequate healing are two of the main issues in dental implant surgery. Below, you will find important details about these common problems with dental implants that you should be aware of.
Infection
One of the most common side effects is peri-implantitis, an infection around dental implants. The characteristics of this condition include:
Poor dental hygiene, smoking habits, bone loss, and certain medical problems including diabetes can all lead to peri-implantitis. There is a risk that it may result in implant failure if untreated.
Poor healing
Sometimes, the healing process after a dental implant cannot be finalized properly, due to some conditions, few of which are listed below.
- First, the implant might not connect well with the jawbone, making it loose.
- Second, healing can take a long time. This can happen if you have diabetes, smoke, don't clean your mouth well, or take certain medicines.
- Third, the gums around the implant can move back, causing pain and swelling.
- Fourth, the implant might feel loose or hurt for a long time, which means it is not healing correctly.
To make sure your implant heals well, you should:
- Clean your mouth very well every day.
- Go to the dentist for check-ups often.
- If you have pain, swelling, or a loose implant, see a doctor right away.
- Do what the dentist says after the surgery, like use ice and eat soft food.
It is very important to find and fix problems early when you get a dental implant. If you see any bad signs, you must go to the dentist quickly. This will stop more problems and help keep the implant from failing.
A medical condition affecting healing
Diabetes can make recovery after dental implant surgery difficult. If you have diabetes, your blood does not circulate well, so you heal slowly. You can also get infections more easily because your immune system is not as strong as it used to be. Diabetes can also make it harder for the implant to integrate with your jawbone, which is important for the implant's function. Research shows that if you have diabetes for a long time, the implant may fail due to problems with small blood vessels.
To get a good result, people with diabetes should keep their blood sugar at a proper level, follow all dentist's instructions after surgery and adhere to regular dental check-ups. With good care and your dentist's supervision, people with diabetes can still have dental implants, but they need to be very careful.
Other health problems can also make it harder to heal after dental implant surgery. Heart problems can slow down healing because blood does not flow well. Osteoporosis makes the jawbone weak, so the implant might not connect well. Diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis can make the implant fail because of swelling.
Even though it is possible to get implants with HIV, it can still affect healing because it weakens your body's defense. Lung problems like COPD and asthma, and problems with nerves, can also make healing difficult. If you have hypothyroidism (your thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones), it can affect how your bones grow.
These health problems do not mean you cannot get implants, but you need to be very careful. It is important to talk about your health history with your dentist. This will help you have a better result.
Surgical techniques
Getting dental implants right takes careful surgery. Mistakes can cause problems.
- For example, if the medical instruments used for drilling the jawbone are not sufficiently cooled, excessive heat may cause the bone to be drilled deeper than necessary, preventing the implant from fitting properly.
- Rough handling of gums or bone can tear tissue, exposing the implant to germs and causing infection and bone loss. It can also damage nerves, leading to numbness or pain.
- Putting the implant in at the wrong angle, depth, or too close to other teeth can damage bone, cause infections, and make the fake tooth break.
- Not keeping things clean during surgery can let germs in, causing infections around the implant. Dirty gloves or tools are risky.
- Not checking bone quality before surgery can lead to the implant being wobbly in the thin bone, or poking into the sinus in the upper jaw.
Careful planning, clean surgery, and checking the patient's jawbone condition are key to avoiding these problems and making implants last.
Micromovement of the dental implant
Micromovement of dental implants means very small movements between the implant and the bone. These movements are less than one millimeter. Even these small movements can cause serious problems. If the implant moves too much, the bone cannot connect to it correctly. This is called failed osseointegration.
Here's what can go wrong
- Soft tissue build-up: Instead of bone, soft tissue grows around the implant, making it wobbly.
- Implant loosening: Movement during healing or chewing makes the implant unstable, especially in weak bone.
- Infection risk: Gaps from movement let bacteria in, leading to infections and bone loss.
- Wear and tear: Constant movement wears down the implant and bone, causing inflammation and more bone loss.
What causes this movement?
- Bad surgery: Wrong angle or not tight enough.
- Early use: Putting pressure on the implant too soon.
- Weak bone: Bone that's not strong enough to hold the implant still.
- Bad habits: Chewing hard things or not following aftercare.
Careful planning and looking after the implant can stop this movement, making implants successful over 95% of the time.
Lack of bone
If you don't have enough jawbone, getting dental implants can be tricky. Here's why:
- Wobbly Implants: Without enough bone, the implant might not stick properly, making it loose or fail completely.
- More infections: Less bone means less blood flow, making it harder to heal and easier to get infections.
- Nerve problems: If there's not enough bone, the implant might hit a nerve, causing numbness or pain.
- Extra surgery: You might need extra bone added (bone grafting) or a sinus lift, especially in the upper jaw.
- Long-term loosening: Over time, the implant can get loose as the bone around it weakens.
To avoid these problems, dentists need to check your bone carefully before surgery. If you don't have enough, they might suggest other treatments or bone-building procedures to make the implant work.
Not following doctor's instructions
If you don't follow your dentist's advice after implant surgery, you could have following problems:
- More infections: Not keeping your mouth clean or skipping antibiotics can lead to infections around the implant.
- Slow healing: Eating hard foods too soon or doing things you shouldn't can stop the implant from sticking to the bone properly.
- Wobbly implants: Chewing too hard before the implant is fully healed can make it loose.
- Longer bleeding or swelling: Not following aftercare can make these normal side effects worse.
- Implant failure: Missing check-ups means problems won't be found early, risking implant failure.
- Bone loss: Not cleaning your mouth well or ignoring infection signs can cause bone loss around the implant.
- Prosthetic problems: Not taking care of your prosthetic (artificial tooth) properly can damage it or make it misaligned.
To make sure your implant works, do what your dentist says, keep your oral health in check, go to all your check-ups, and tell your dentist if anything seems wrong.
Complications from bisphosphonates
Medications called bisphosphonates, commonly used to treat osteoporosis and bone diseases, may affect implant success. These drugs slow bone breakdown but can also reduce blood flow, making healing harder.
A major risk for bisphosphonate users is bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ), where the jawbone fails to heal properly, leading to serious complications. Poor oral hygiene and gum disease increase this risk. To prevent problems, patients should maintain good oral care, avoid smoking, and manage conditions like diabetes.
Signs of dental implant infection
Here are some ways to describe the signs of a dental implant infection (peri-implantitis):
- Ongoing soreness or increasing pain around the implant, particularly weeks after surgery.
- Gums that are red, puffy, or tender near the implant.
- Persistent foul breath or a bad taste that brushing doesn't fix.
- Bleeding gums or pus coming from the implant area.
- An implant that feels loose or moves.
- Trouble or pain when eating.
- A fever, which can signal a body-wide infection.
- Changes in gum color, such as red or purple discoloration.
- Seeing the implant's threads because the gums have shrunk back.
FAQs
What is the success rate of a dental implant procedure?
Dental implants can last for many tears. According to various scientific studies conducted on real life experiences of patients, 90-95% of the implants last successfully still at least for 15 years. The rate of success depends on many conditions like the location of the implant, patient's lifestyle and the level of your care for oral hygiene.
How long do dental implants hurt?
The peak level of distress and pain are usually felt for two to three days after surgery. The discomfort usually lasts three to seven days. Most people feel much less pain after one week. You might feel a little pain for two to four weeks. The mouth usually heals completely, and the pain goes away, in three to six months.
Why does my dental implant hurt when I chew?
If you experience persistent pain, it would be best to consult your dentist. But in general, when you chew, pain in the area of your dental implant may be caused by:
- Misalignment
- Infection (peri-implantitis)
- Implant overloading
- Improper fit or placement
- Damage to implant or crown
- Nerve issues
- Sinus problems (upper jaw implants)
Is removing a tooth implant painful?
Removing a dental implant is typically a comfortable procedure thanks to local anesthesia and sedation. Patients may feel some pressure or vibration, but it's usually not painful. Afterward, there might be some soreness for a few days or weeks, which can be managed with pain medication. However, in some cases, especially if complications arise or bone grafting is needed, the pain might last longer.
What are the disadvantages of implants as compared with normal teeth?
Negative experiences with dental implants include having to exaggerate enunciation to avoid an 'S' that sounds like a 'shh.' Some patients also struggle to sense how close or far their front teeth are when biting into food, as there is no real feeling.
Pain management during and after dental implant placement
Dental implant pain is managed with numbing during placement and pain relievers like ibuprofen, cold compresses, and sometimes prescription medication afterward. A soft diet and gentle cleaning help. Most pain fades within a week, peaking 2-3 days post-surgery. Following your dentist's instructions and reporting severe pain ensures faster healing and less discomfort.
Aftercare of dental implants
Aftercare for dental implants involves several key steps:
1. Immediate post-surgery (0-24 hours)
- Rest and avoid strenuous activities
- Eat soft foods and drink water slowly
- Take prescribed pain medications
- Rinse with saltwater or antibacterial mouthwash
2. Soft tissue healing (1-14 days)
- Continue gentle oral care
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Use ice packs for swelling
3. Long-term care
- Brush twice daily with a soft toothbrush
- Use low-abrasive toothpaste
- Floss daily specifically produced for implant-specific floss
- Avoid smoking and limit alcohol consumption
- Attend regular dental check-ups
4. Diet considerations
At the beginning of your post-operative healing process, stick to soft foods
Avoid hot foods and drinks for the first 24 hours
Gradually return to normal diet as healing progresses
What are the worst parts of dental implants?
The common drawbacks of dental implants lie in the protracted and multi-phased treatment process, which may span several months and involve successive interventions—such as extractions, bone or soft tissue grafting, osseointegration, and final prosthesis placement.
The level of discomfort, though generally tolerable, can persist intermittently, necessitating dietary restrictions (e.g., soft foods) and temporary lifestyle adjustments (e.g., abstaining from alcohol). Patient experiences vary considerably depending on anatomical factors, including bone density, gingival health, and individual healing capacity; while some cases (e.g., single-tooth implants in stable bone) proceed smoothly, others (particularly those requiring extensive grafting) entail greater complexity and recovery time.
Also, the substantial financial investment and the risk of encountering clinics that promise expedited results—potentially compromising long-term stability—further underscore the importance of selecting a reputable provider. Although postoperative discomfort typically pales in comparison to preexisting dental pain, the cumulative burden of repeated visits, prolonged healing, and high costs renders the process demanding for many patients.
Acardent Turkey Dental Clinic: A trusted choice for dental implants
At Acardent Turkey Dental Clinic, we offer dental implants as a reliable and effective solution for dental restoration. Our experienced team meticulously follows every step of the treatment process and provides high quality service using the latest technology. We realise that each patient's needs are different, so we prepare tailor-made treatment plans for each of them, speeding up the healing process and achieving lasting results. Our aim is to provide the best implant experience in Turkey by prioritising the comfort and satisfaction of our patients, and to ensure that they get their smiles with confidence.