Struggling with dental problems can be disruptive to your life. The pain and discomfort can affect your daily activities, and you may be limited in the things that you can eat comfortably. For this reason, your dentist may recommend that you consider dental implants to replace your damaged teeth. Dental implants are usually a fairly successful option for those with dental problems, but they aren't impervious to potential failure. Here's a look at what you need to know about dental implant surgery and when you should call your dentist.
How Long Is The Recovery From Dental Implant Surgery?
Dental implant surgery is actually a fairly non-invasive and simple procedure. However, like any other surgical procedure, it does require healing time. Knowing how long it takes to recover from the surgery is the first step toward understanding any indications of possible implant failure.
You can expect the entire process, including healing, to take six to eight months in most cases. However, if you have jaw bone problems that require a bone graft for the implants to be placed, you may need another six months of healing time for the bone graft as well.
Your healing may also be affected by any autoimmune or immune system disorders that you might have. Additionally, those with diabetes and other conditions that slow healing may find that it takes longer to reach full recovery.
What Kinds Of Implant Failures Might You Experience?
Another key to recognizing when you should call your dentist is knowing what kinds of dental implant failures might occur.
For example, you might experience implant failure early in the healing process. This type of rejection is known as an early failure, and it's often because you have an allergy to the metal in the implant posts.
Once the bone has healed around the implant post, any rejection that happens at that point is considered a late failure. This usually occurs as a result of physical trauma to the jawbone, or it can happen because of smoking or a serious illness. You may also suffer late failure if you fail to take care of your implants the way that your doctor recommends.
What Are The Signs Of Implant Failure?
If your dental implant is failing, your body will alert you with a variety of signs. Knowing what these signs are is essential to being able to seek treatment when necessary. Early intervention may help to prevent rejection.
Redness, swelling, and inflammation in your gums around the implant site may be considered among the earliest indications of impending implant failure. As soon as you notice any kind of redness or other unusual condition in the gums around your implant, you should call your dentist.
Pain in your jaw, even if it isn't clearly radiating from an implant site, can also be an indication of a possible failing implant. It's often difficult to identify where the pain in your jaw is originating from because of the way that it radiates, so you'll want to talk with a dentist and have a thorough exam to identify the troublesome implant.
Loose implants, even if they only feel like they're wiggling a tiny bit, also indicate failure. When an implant heals properly, it integrates into the jawbone, holding the implant secure as though it were a natural tooth. If you're feeling any kind of movement in your dental implant, even if it's only enough to make eating a little bit of a challenge, that movement should be an indication that you need to call your dentist.
Talk with your dentist today about dental implants, including implant surgery, post-surgical care, and any signs or symptoms that you should be watching out for. The more you know ahead of time, the greater your chances of successful implant surgery.
Share22 December 2020
Being born with naturally soft teeth, I've spent a lot of time in and out of the dentist's office. Not only have I learned a lot about basic dental care, I've also discovered many tips for dealing with broken teeth, extractions, implants, and more. I decided that I wanted to make the most of my experience by sharing what I've learned with others. True first-hand experience is a great teacher, and I knew that my story could help. I created this site to do just that, and I hope that the information here helps you to understand what to expect from your dental problems.