Common complications of Dental implants

Implant questions
The common complications of Dental implants

Common complications of dental implants

You should remember that Most of the below mentioned complications could be overcome by selecting an experienced surgeon, proper treatment procedures and selecting good types of implants

Well organized, thorough treatment plans lead to successful implant treatment and patient satisfaction, which are the ultimate long-term goals.

Patient health condition is an important factor for the success of the implant. Studies have shown (Moy PK, Medina D, Aghaloo TL, et al. Dental implant failure rates and associated risk factors. Int J oral Maxillofac Implants.2005;20:569-577.)

1.    Increasing age (60–79 y/o) has a strong association on risk with implant failure

2.    Smoking

3.    Diabetes

4.    Head and neck radiation

5.       Postmenopausal oestrogen therapy (hormonal drugs taken due to diseases after stopping of menstruation cycle )

Improper Implant Location causes several complications perforation of the lingual concavity, constriction of the lingual space or damage of the lingual artery. To place implants based on available bone often results in poor aesthetic outcomes as well as long-term problems in cleaning the implant and jaw bone loss.

Possible surgical complications (which are possible for any other surgery) areto postoperative infection, bleeding, swelling, facial discoloration, transient pain, paresthesia, neuralgia, fracture,

Joint pain, muscle spasm, tooth looseness and sensitivity, recession, speech change, difficulty in opening mouth, and swallowing of foreign objects.

Anatomy-related complications

1.       Nerve Injury leading to transient or permanent numbness involved in inferior alveolar, mental, incisive or lingual nerves.

2.       Excessive bleeding related Life-threatening events associated with dental implants are rare.

3.       Cortical Plate Perforation

4.       Sinus Membrane Complications- In the upper posterior, the proximity of the sinuses can create a problem for dental implants if there is minimal residual crestal bone (less than5mm) for stability. Ardekian et al found maxillary sinus membrane perforations were more common in areas with minimal amount (≤5 mm) of residual alveolar bone but this did not affect the overall implant success rate.

5.       Devitalization of Adjacent Teeth implant pathosis caused by dormant endodontic problems of adjacent teeth that flare up after implant surgery.

Mechanical Complications

1.       surgical trauma during osteotomy preparation with the drill

2.       Lack of Primary Stability

3.       Mandibular Fracture

4.       Ingestion and Aspiration

Other

1.       Study done by the Dental Implant Clinical Research Group found that inexperienced surgeons (≤50 implants) were twice as likely to have implant failures compared with more experienced surgeons.some of other complications are due to not following post-operative instructions by the patients