Are You Still Having Dental Implant Problems Years Later?

Each year there are more than five million dental implants placed in America. The majority of those procedures are successful and give the patients their desired results.

But occasionally something will go wrong and patients will experience dental implant problems years later.

While it doesn't happen often, it is a possibility. These issues can turn into major sources of stress for those patients who do experience it. Between the pain and the need for additional dental work, it can feel overwhelming.

Luckily, there are great dentists who can easily solve these problems. Read on to learn all about dental implant problems and what can be done for them.

Though it's a very common procedure, getting a dental implant is still a surgery, which can have potential risks.

Occasionally, a dental implant procedure won't be completed following the proper guidelines. This happens when the dentist performing the surgery hasn't completed the full certification and isn't trained correctly.

When the surgery isn't done correctly the patient may experience a loose tooth feeling in their implant. This affects the way they eat and talk, which can be very frustrating.

This loose feeling can also come if the patient doesn't follow the after-care instructions fully. The dental implant needs extensive time to heal and be permanently fixed to the bone. If the patient doesn't give it the time then it will likely have future problems.

More serious problems can come if proper sterilization and cleaning techniques aren't followed. The worst being a severe infection.

Infections are some of the most common problems after dental implants. They can come from improper cleaning in the facility but more commonly come straight from the patient.

Some health conditions, like diabetes, gum disease, or a weak immune system, can make the patient more susceptible to infection.

There are also lifestyle choices that can make a patient more vulnerable as well. These include regular smoking, drinking, and taking certain prescription medications. All of these factors should be discussed with the dentist to evaluate the potential risk.

But if a patient decides to move forward with the procedure, it's important to know what to look for in a possible infection.

A dental implant infection will present itself most likely with bright red, swollen gums. The patient will experience mild to severe pain depending on the severity of the infection. It will likely be most painful to bite down and chew.

Some of these symptoms are common in the first few days of healing. But if they present for longer or come much later into the healing time period, the patient should contact their provider.

If a patient is beginning to experience some discomfort and thinks that the implant is failing, they'll likely contact their dentist to get some clarification for what they should do.

One of the most frequently asked questions from patients is how long they should be in minimal pain after getting their dental implants.

Most patients will experience some discomfort after the implant is placed. This makes sense as the surgeon has to drill into the jawbone. But this should only last around four days, after that the patient should pay close attention to worsening symptoms.

Patients are also generally very curious about what is normal pain and what is abnormal.

Typically, if the patient has a hard time chewing and experiences sharp pain throughout the jaw that's too much pain. The general, typical healing pain should be easily managed through over the counter pain medications.

Contacting your dentist is the best way to find out the right next moves to resolve your issues.

The good news is that only 5-10% of dental implants will end in failure. So your chances of an unsuccessful procedure are fairly low.

The biggest cause of dental implant crown problems is the lack of care from the patient.

A dental implant procedure is fairly straight forward and the most important part is the healing time before the crown is placed. It's critical for the patient to follow the dentist's instructions perfectly. This will allow the mouth the proper environment for healing.

The patient needs to practice perfect oral hygiene, keeping the area clean, and cared for. Even if it's been years since the procedure, infection is a possibility if the area isn't taken care of.

Sometimes underlying problems are hidden from view for an extended period of time. But good oral hygiene should regularly be able to remedy these before they become big problems.

The most important thing you can do to fix any dental implant problems that come up after your procedure is to make sure you're working with the best dentist possible.

Many dentists may advertise that they can perform these procedures but don't have the right training or the skills necessary. It's really critical to change dental offices if you're not satisfied with the care you receive.

If you're confident with the dentist you're working with, it's helpful to get to them for help as soon as your symptoms progress.

Often infections that are caught early enough can be resolved with an antibiotic before permanent damage is done. If permanent damage is done the surgeon may need to re-do the procedure and place a new implant.

Generally, these issues can be resolved with little lasting damage to the jaw and teeth.

Dental implants are an important procedure for many patients. They solve a variety of common problems and can make lives much more comfortable.

When they work how they are supposed to and healing is successful, a patient can expect it to be a long-term solution.

But on the occasions when there are dental implant problems years later, the patient will need to see a dentist quickly. The new dentist will be able to fix the problem and give the patient more relief.