Dental Implant Problems To Avoid
Smoking and unmanaged chronic health conditions like diabetes can put your dental implants in danger. Knowing what the possible dangers are is the first step in improving your oral health so that you can enjoy a successful implant procedure.
Gum Disease
Untreated gum disease, or periodontal disease, can compromise the success of a new implant. Although implants aren't your natural teeth, they aren't immune to plaque buildup. If you have untreated gum disease, then the plaque will lead to pockets of inflamed gum tissue around the implants, which in turn increases the chances of bone loss and infection, as detailed further below.
Bone Loss
Bone loss is caused by a combination of factors, but they all have infection as the catalyst. Infections such as those from gum disease get into the bone and kill off the tissue. Issues can be made worse if the sufferer has reduced healing or circulation issues, such as from a chronic condition or due to smoking. Without a strong bone, the implant has nothing to anchor within, so the chance of implant failure increases.
Tissue Damage
Tissue damage is similar to bone loss, except it is the gum tissue that recedes in response to infection and poor circulation. Loss of gums interferes with implant integration and also makes one more prone to decay on remaining natural teeth. Poor circulation in the gums is a common complaint from those that use nicotine, as well as those with health conditions that impact circulation and healing.
Peri-Implantitis
Peri-implantitis is an infection at the implant site, so this is a problem that affects those with fully installed implants. Usually, the infection begins when a pocket forms in the gums at the base of the implant. This pocket becomes filled with bacteria. In severe cases, the implantitis can spread into the bone at the implant site, causing the implant to loosen and the area to become sore. Hygiene issues are the common root cause of peri-implantitis.
Osseointegration Failure
It's called osseointegration failure when the implant fails to fully integrate into the bone. There are many causes for this type of failure, but infection and slow healing — whether as a result of poor hygiene, health conditions, or smoking — is often the base cause. If you are at high risk for failure you will need to work closely with your dentist during the recovery period to prevent it from happening.
Although these are risks, the good news is that you can work with your dentist to reduce or even completely mitigate these problems. Contact a dental implant service today for more information.
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