Treatment Of Missing Teeth: Common Side Effects Of Dental Implants (Article Sample)

Common Side Effects of Dental Implants? Dental implants are a minor oral surgery where missing or lost teeth get replaced with permanent, natural feeling teeth. Although this is a minimally invasive surgical procedure, it involves the use of dental prosthetics which are attached to the jaw or skull by the use of titanium screws. Dental implants are the recommended procedure for the treatment of missing teeth and have been very successful in the same. However, as with any surgical procedure, dental implants come with expected and unexpected risks, some worse than others. Let’s look at some of the common side effects associated with dental implants. 1. Dental implant infection – As with any surgical procedure, post-op infection is a risk. After getting dental implants, patients are advised to clean their implants just as they would their natural teeth. Natural teeth are vulnerable to plaque build-up, and the same is true for dental implants. If the plaque is not cleaned out, its build-up causes gum irritation which can lead to inflammation, and progressively infection of the gum or bone. This infection is known as Peri-implantitis. The earlier you notice the swelling, the better to prevent the loss of your implants. Late diagnosis of this infection can lead to the removal of your implants. 2. Pain - As with any surgery, once the anesthetic wears off, some level of pain is expected. In the case of dental implants, the tooth and gum area around the replaced tooth will be sore and tender, and in some cases, this pain and discomfort may extend to the jaw and face area. The usual remedy for the pain and discomfort is prescription painkillers and other over the counter pain medications except for aspirin which has anti-coagulation properties. It is vital to note that the pain should subside a...