Dental Implants: Understanding the Potential Drawbacks

Though generally speaking, people's dental care is much better than it was in the past, many people still lose teeth. This may be as a result of a gum disease, such as gingivitis, trauma, or dental decay. Though dental plates and bridges have improved, many people opt for dental implants. They are usually a successful solution and enable the person to almost forget that she has ever had tooth loss, as the implants both look and feel natural. However, having dental implants is a complex procedure which does have some disadvantages.

The Procedure

• The implants will take time to heal.

  The procedure takes a lot of time, and requires the person who is receiving the implants to be patient. The implants are carried out under general anesthetic. There follows a healing time which can last between three and six months. A temporary false tooth or "flipper" can be worn until the crown can be attached to the implanted titanium root. Some people might find the waiting period difficult to deal with. Overall, the procedure can be lengthy, and for some of the time the person may have to wear a denture. He will also need considerable time off work to attend the dental surgery.

Expense and Discomfort

• Having dental implants is an expensive undertaking; in fact it is potentially the most costly sort of dental treatment. Depending on the number of implants, the procedure may cost several thousands of dollars. In addition, there will be some discomfort, and in some cases there may be swelling.

Complications

• Complications are fairly rare, but 1% to 2 % of implants are rejected. This can usually be resolved by replacing the implant. Infection can occur, but again, this is rare. If the dental surgeon is not skilled enough or makes a mistake, damage can occur to the person's sinus cavities. It is always advisable to thoroughly research the procedure and the credentials of the dental surgeon before embarking on

  this procedure.

Unsuitability

• Occasionally, some people's bones may not be strong enough or are otherwise unsuitable to have an implant attached. In a case like this, there may be the option of using a bone graft, but this makes the procedure even more expensive and complex .