Dental implants are a wonderful investment for someone looking to replace missing teeth. After all, they can be used to replace just a single tooth causing a gap in your smile, or all of the teeth in more extreme cases. Making a financial investment in careful planning and expert patient care is critical to the success of having dental implants.
A failed dental implant or implant gone wrong can cause patients extreme discomfort, an extended recovery time and unnecessary costs they won’t get back. Failing to choose the right dentist for your implants can be risky.
Here are six problems our clients have come across prior to engaging us for help!
1. Failed implant due to inadequate bone support
If there is not enough bone around an implant, there is not enough to hold it in place, long-term. A small amount of bone cannot stabilise a full-length implant. Patients should be sceptical of advice to place implants in areas with poor bone height. Techniques such as CT Scanning or bone grafts ensure successful and thorough implant placement, providing a lasting result and patient confidence.
Avoid this by: Asking your cosmetic dentist if they’re sure there is enough bone to hold an implant and what options there are if there isn’t enough bone.
2. An improperly placed implants can puncture the sinus cavity
Sinus cavities come in different sizes in different people. Some even lay directly on top of the roots of upper teeth. If a tooth is missing, the sinus may sink partially into this area. In these cases, a sinus lift is necessary before the implant root can be placed into the mouth. Otherwise, the implant root may puncture the lining of the sinus and extend into the cavity.
Avoid this by: Ensuring your cosmetic dentist has taken enough imagery to confirm there is no risk of sinus cavities sinking into the missing tooth area and what options you have, if it has sunken.
3. Improper placement preventing restorations from being installed
A detailed game plan is needed before your dental implants are placed. What type of restoration will go on top? A crown? Bridge? Denture? If implants are just placed at random by one provider, without consulting the dentist carrying out the restorations, they may be put in a location that does not provide access for the fixed prosthesis, requiring them to all be removed and done over again.
Avoid this by: Ensuring there is collaboration between the dentists doing the work and that a clear plan has been established and agreed upon by both.
4. Infection around the implant
Another common cause of implant failure is infection around the implant, causing its rejection. An infection can result from contamination of the surgical site or the implant during installation or during handling of the instruments. It can take days or weeks for evidence to be visible on an x-ray, or for symptoms to be exhibited, such as the inability of the surgical site to heal. The most severe infections require the dental implant to be removed completely so the infection can be resolved, followed by a repeat of the entire treatment.
Avoid this by: Ensuring the cosmetic dentist doing the implant dentistry has a great reputation in the implant dentistry field and online, has implant specific certifications and are part of groups held to a high medical standard.
5. Nerve damage causing facial numbness
There’s a risk of unwanted side-effects from surgical procedures of any kind. However, improper surgical methods or negligence during work or in after-care can result in damage to nerves, causing numbness or partial facial paralysis, chronic pain for months or even for a lifetime. Some patients will recover, while others are lucky to regain some of the feeling.
Avoid this by: Ensuring the cosmetic dentist doing the implant dentistry has a great reputation in the implant dentistry field and online, has implant specific certifications and are part of groups held to a high medical standard.
6. Choosing an unqualified implant dentist
Without the right experience, a dentist can jeopardise the successful placement of an implant and, with that, the appearance of the patient’s smile. Because of the extensive training needed to become a successful implant dentist, many do not provide the service in their office, or they may limit the type of implants offered, to meet their ability.
Avoid this by: Ask to see the qualifications of the cosmetic dentist and what their success rate is with implant dentistry.
Ready to find out more?
When you are making the investment in time and finances to having dental implants, you need to be assured you’re in good hands. Choose a dentist with the right training and experience, a successful track record and the technology available to create a beautiful, healthy mouth for decades to come. Smile by Design dentists have over 20 years of experience in providing healthy, successful dental implant services. Call us today on 1800 888 645 to schedule your complimentary implant consultation today to find out how we can help. You can also book an appointment online here, for a fast reply.
