If you have one or more missing teeth, your dentist has probably talked to you about dental implants. Around the world, they are regarded as the best form of tooth replacement. Still, the treatment process involves surgery, and you might have heard stories about things going wrong. It is natural to wonder if dental implants are safe! This blog post explains why there is no real reason to worry.
A Long History of Safety
Modern dental implants have been around for decades, and many scientific studies have been conducted to measure their safety and efficacy. Studies provide varying data on their success rate, but according to many researchers, they are successful in more than 95% of cases.
Of course, it must be acknowledged that success rates are lower when certain complicating factors are involved. For example, if a patient smokes or has certain medical conditions, there is a greater risk of something going wrong.
Safety Precautions for Dental Implants
All responsible dentists have a strong focus on patient safety, so they have measures in place to minimize the risk of something going wrong during or after dental implant surgery. Here are a few examples of what they may do:
- Thoroughly screen patients for health conditions and allergies that might put them at risk of complications.
- Use advanced technology and techniques to place the implants in the best location in the jawbone.
- Use high-quality supplies made of medical-grade materials. For example, most implants are made of titanium, which is both very strong and proven to work well in the human body.
- Closely monitor patients during surgery in case they have a bad reaction to anesthesia.
- Coach patients on how they can care well for their mouth after dental implant surgery.
If you are curious about the specific steps that your local dental team uses to protect their patients, do not hesitate to ask!
What If Something Goes Wrong?
The greatest threat to dental implants is infection. If harmful bacteria attack the tissue around the implants, it can eventually cause them to fail. The good news is that the majority of such infections are preventable via simple steps, such as thorough at-home oral hygiene and routine dental checkups.
If you choose to move forward with dental implants and ever start to suspect that something is not quite right, visit your dentist as soon as possible. The earlier you receive treatment, the more likely it is that the problem can be addressed before it becomes severe.
Dental implants are not totally risk-free (no medical procedure is), but they are generally very safe! In fact, the rewards of this treatment vastly outweigh any potential downsides.
Meet the Practice
Waban Dental Group is proud to be home to a team of highly skilled general dentists and specialists. We always emphasize patient safety when performing any procedure. We want each patient to have a positive outcome! If you have questions about dental implants or how our practice protects patients, get in touch with our Newton, MA, dental office at 617-527-6061.
