The Risks of Getting Dental Implants

In order to have realistic expectations about the implant dentistry process and what it can achieve, it's important that patients understand the risks and the benefits of treatment. This provides a solid outline of the process and provides realistic expectations about implant dentistry in general.

All surgeries involve some minor risk of infection. Thanks to modern surgical techniques, sterilization methods, and oral surgery technology, the likelihood of infection following the placement of dental implants is quite low.

After undergoing oral surgery to place dental implants, patients may take longer to heal than normal. They may also notice issues with the quality of their recovery and the quality of the surgery. Sutures may come loose in the early stages of healing, for instance, or the incision sites along the gumline may not seal or clot properly.

Osseointegration is an essential part of the implant dentistry process. This means that the dental implants fuse with the patient's jawbone and gum tissue. This allows the dental implants to function like natural tooth roots.

Sometimes the problem has less to do with osseointegration and more to do with the health and condition of a patient's gums and bone structure. If a patient does not have healthy gums and jawbone structure, or if the gum tissue and/or bone structure is not sufficient to support the dental implants, this can lead to a number of problems with the overall procedure and its effectiveness at addressing tooth loss.

In order to minimize the risks of complications following oral surgery to place dental implants, it's of the utmost importance that patients follow pre-op and post-op instructions to the letter. This will help minimize all potential risks of complications occurring and ensure a recovery that is problem free.

As noted above, we use the latest surgical techniques and technologies available to make all facets of the oral surgery process as free from complications as possible. In addition, we schedule frequent followup visits with our patients to ensure that they are progressing properly as they recover.

To learn more about dental implants and how they can help you have a beautiful and healthy smile, be sure to contact our oral surgery and maxillofacial specialists today. The team here at Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates looks forward to meeting you in person and helping you have a healthy and beautiful smile.