Dental implants are metal posts or frames that are surgically positioned into the jawbone beneath your gums. Once in place, they allow your dentist to mount replacement teeth onto them.
How do Dental Implants Work?
Because implants fuse to your jawbone, they provide stable support for artificial teeth. Dentures and bridges mounted to implants won’t slip or shift in your mouth — an especially important benefit when eating and speaking. This secure fit helps the dentures and bridges — as well as individual crowns placed over implants — feel more natural than conventional bridges or dentures.
For some people, ordinary bridges and dentures are simply not comfortable or even possible, due to sore spots, poor ridges or gagging. In addition, ordinary bridges must be attached to teeth on either side of the space left by the missing tooth. An advantage of implants is that no adjacent teeth need to be prepared or ground down to hold your new replacement tooth/teeth in place.
To receive implants, you need to have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant. You must also commit to keeping these structures healthy. Meticulous oral hygiene and regular dental visits are critical to the long-term success of dental implants.
Implants are usually more expensive than other methods of tooth replacement, and most insurance carriers typically cover less than 10 percent of the fees.
The American Dental Association considers two types of implants to be safe. They are:
Endosteal implants — these are surgically implanted directly into the jawbone. Once the surrounding gum tissue has healed, a second surgery is needed to connect a post to the original implant. Finally, an artificial tooth (or teeth) is attached to the post-individually, or grouped on a bridge or denture.
Subperiosteal implants — these consist of a metal frame that is fitted onto the jawbone just below the gum tissue. As the gums heal, the frame becomes fixed to the jawbone. Posts, which are attached to the frame, protrude through the gums. As with endosteal implants, artificial teeth are then mounted to the posts.
What Are the Common Side Effects of Dental Implant Surgery?
Tooth loss is a dental complication that can have a significant impact on a person’s oral health. Whether a single tooth has gone missing or multiple teeth have been lost, the effects on adjacent teeth can be serious. Missing teeth can jeopardize oral functions, compromise the aesthetics of the smile, and even weaken the jawbone. Because of the many disadvantages of tooth loss, it is important that patients address this problem as soon as possible. Implant dentistry offers the strongest and most durable treatment for missing teeth. Dental implants are surgically implanted screws that anchor a full range of dental restorations to closely mimic the natural teeth. However, dental implant surgery is associated with some side effects. Here, the dentists at Coastal Jaw Surgery discuss possible dental implant surgery side effects with our patients so that they are fully prepared for their recovery period.
Side Effects
Dental implant surgery is minimally invasive and has been shown to be an overwhelmingly successful treatment option for missing teeth. Still, because it is a surgical procedure, patients should expect to experience some side effects in the days following treatment. These side effects are often minimal and should resolve within a week after surgery. Below are the most common side effects of dental implant surgery:
Pain: During dental implant treatment, anesthetic will be used to ensure that the patient does not feel any pain. However, in the days after surgery, it is common for the patient to experience some pain or discomfort. The gums directly around the implant site will probably feel sore and tender. This discomfort may extend to the jaw or face as well. In some cases, pain medication will be prescribed. If no medication is prescribed, then over-the-counter medication can be used to control pain. It is important to note that aspirin can increase bleeding, so patients should be sure to use an aspirin-free medication, such as ibuprofen.
Swelling: Swelling is a natural reaction after any type of surgery, so patients should expect to experience some inflammation after dental implant treatment. This swelling is most likely to affect the gums around the incision site and the facial tissues that are closest to the treatment area. Swelling should subside on its own, but patients can use an ice pack to help minimize swelling and relieve any discomfort that may be felt.
Bruising: Bruising is another common side effect of dental implant surgery. Most commonly, patients will experience bruising in the gums and jaw bone around the implant site. This bruising will probably be internal, so it may not be visible. Some patients may also experience noticeable bruising on the cheeks.
The side effects of dental implant surgery are temporary and should diminish on their own. If a patient’s symptoms are not improving, or are getting worse, report this to our dentists immediately. Severe side effects may be a sign of infection or other complications.
Schedule an Appointment
If you would like to learn more about dental implant treatment and whether it may be right for you, schedule an appointment with one of our experienced surgeons at Coastal Jaw Surgery in Palm Harbor, Spring Hill, or Trinity, Florida at your earliest convenience.
Source: Colgate
