Dental implants have been used for many years in the dental industry and have been hailed as one of the big advances of the dental field. A better understanding of the use of these implants has transformed tooth replacement and overall oral care and hygiene practices and prosthetics. Because of their durability and the recent improvement that have been made, dental implants have nearly a 95% success rate over a 5-year period. However, as is with all surgical procedures, there is still a small percentage of failures, many that occur within a few months of the implant procedure being done. It is important to understand the dental implant risks that exist, no matter how small they may be. It is important to know what to look out for when it comes to health concerns regarding dental implants. Here at Comfort Care Family Dental we know what is riding on your implants and will work with you to help you get and maintain the smile you deserve!
The Increasing Risk
Years of research, medical advancements, and improvements in methodology have made dental implants all the more reliable and amazing and these research breakthrough advances have shown that these rare failures are due to several key issues. One of the leading causes of implants failures are peri-implantitis, which is a type of gum disease, which weakens the jaw bone and causes the implant to fail. Another cause for these rare cases of dental implant risks for failure is excessive stress on the implants due to improper placement or other issues such as over or under bites. Some health and lifestyle factors can also cause implants to fail- cancer, smoking, chewing tobacco, chewing ice, and other human activities. Although one cannot eliminate all risks, you can greatly reduce the health concerns regarding dental implants by taking care of your teeth and gums before and after the implants are in place.
Your Overall Health
What happens to the rest of your body often is seen in your oral health and it has been shown that dental issue scan affect other areas of the body. Certain drugs, and medical treatments can weaken the bones or weaken the immune system and cause the implants to fail. Lifestyle issues like smoking and drinking or the use of certain medications can be dealt with by moving away from those factors, other health concerns will need to be discussed with your dentist to ensure you are a good candidate for implants in the first place.
Bone Health and Other Oral Issues
Implants need strong jaw bones to be properly installed and without it, they will not be as stable or durable as they are supposed to be. If you’ve experienced significant bone loss or other serious issues like missing teeth or sever gum disease this will impact the strength and stability of your jaw bone and thus affect the success of your implants. Habits such as grinding teeth or clenching you jaw when you are stressed can severely damage implants, especially when they are in already compromised bone. These issues and habits will need to be dealt with before implants can be successfully installed.
Care and Maintenance
The way in which you go about caring for your implants has a critical role to play in the longevity and overall success of the implants. Many of the dental implant risks that people face tie into the lack of proper care given on a daily basis. Just like your natural teeth need to be cleaned, the health concerns regarding dental implants often arise from improper cleaning and care. While the implants can’t decay or get cavities, the gums they are seated in and the bone they are anchored in can still get bacterial infections if they are not cleaned correctly. Normal dental hygiene needs to be continued as you do for your natural teeth with daily brushing and flossing and the use of high-quality toothpaste and mouthwash. You will also need to keep all follow up appointments and cleanings with your dentist so that any issues can be detected sooner and steps can be taken to protect your teeth and ensure the longevity of your implants.
Contact Us Today
Many people get implants and other dental work done and some worry about the dental implant risks that they may face down the road after the procedure is done. With the right daily care and a good support plan in place and with proper maintenance and care from your dental experts at Comfort Care Family Dental, you can enjoy your implants for many years. Many of the health concerns regarding dental implants tie back to the choices you make in life, so make sure everything is in order and give yourself the best chance for a long and happy life with a smile you cannot help but share with the world. Call and set up your appointment today!
