Dental implants have vastly become the most preferred choice for replacing missing teeth. People who lose their teeth not only face problems in eating and speaking, they tend to suffer significant shrinkage of jaw bone over time, as integrity of the bone is dependent on the teeth embedded in it.

The procedure is however very costly especially in nations like the US and the UK. But nowadays many patients from these first world nations are seeking dental implants in Mexico, India and Thailand as they get world class services in the clinics there at an extremely affordable price.

With the loss of teeth and depletion of bone, an individual gradually loses his facial dimensions and has to rely on artificial teeth to restore esthetics and function. The advancements in dentistry are more and more being focused on ensuring patient comfort and scientists around the world are devising ways that allow quick restoration of lost teeth.

One way to replace missing teeth immediately is same-day implants. Unlike the traditional ‘two stage placement’ or ‘delayed placement,’ in this method the patient need not wait for weeks before a crown can be placed over the implant.

The treatment is gaining popularity among patients as it allows them to leave the dental office with a new tooth that closely replicates the natural one, without having to wait for months after the implant surgery. Affordable dental treatments abroad encourages people especially from the US to go for dental care procedures without hesitations and worries regarding financial issues. In fact in many cases, one could also save up to 30 to 50% on the procedure.

In a single sitting, the tooth can be extracted, implant inserted in the bone and loaded with a temporary tooth-like crown. A second visit to the dental office is required to replace the initially-placed temporary crown with a permanent one, but at no point, the patient is left without a tooth, so esthetics are always maintained.

Now, the procedure, often referred to as ‘teeth in a day’ or ‘teeth today,’ seems very appealing, but it does come with a set of risks and problems.

One major risk with immediate loading implants is the increased risk of implant failure. In the conventional method, after placing the implant screw inside the bone, the dentist waits for a period of 2-6 months, to allow for the bone to grow around the implant and form a strong bond with it. The process is called as osseointegration. Once the bond between the implant and the bone is confirmed to be strong, the head of the implant is loaded with a tooth crown. Ossointegration, it must be noted, is the most critical step for successful implant placement.

In immediate loading implants, the bone is not allowed to heal like in the conventional method. Of course, the freshly placed implant is never subjected to immediate pressure in any form, but even the slightest negligence can lead to failure of the entire process.

High risk of implant failure results in the need of higher number of implants, eventually raising the cost of the treatment manifold.

Besides, like any surgery, this too runs a significant risk of infection, more so, because if the tooth is extracted the same day, and the socket is not cleaned properly before placing the implant it may lead to complications.

DentaVacation facilitates affordable dental treatments at various destinations across the world. For more information, submit the estimate-request form on the right.

Dental implants have been established as a safe and successful method of replacing the missing teeth in an individual. But their placement involves a surgery, and any surgical procedure carries some risk of complications.

The surgical procedure is very expensive too and not every body can afford such costly dental care treatment especially in the first world nations. However affordable dental treatments abroad have encouraged many to travel to places like Mexico, India and Thailand for low cost dental implants. Dental Tourism has grown big and the network is expanding at an alarming rate.

Problems may occur during or after the surgery, and may be because of lack of skill on part of the dentist, or because of the patient’s carelessness in implant care.

Some of the common complications seen in implant cases are:

Implant rejection/failure

The Implant screw, made of titanium, may sometimes fail to be accepted by the jaw. Osseointegration is the most critical part of an implant procedure and if the bone refuses to integrate with the screw, the implant cannot be a success.

The implant may also fail to integrate because of improper placement, excessive pressure before complete healing, or any negligence on the patient’s part in maintaining the required oral hygiene.

Dental Implant infection

Infection or inflammation of the oral tissues may occur after implant placement as the surgery exposes the tissues to foreign substances and bacteria, which if not countered, may result in infection and severe pain.

Fracture/perforation of the bone

Implants are basically small screw-like structures, usually made of titanium, which are inserted into the bone after drilling holes in it. In areas where the bone is too thin, it may fracture while placing the implant. The bone may also fracture due to excessive pressure during placement or incorrect direction of the implant.

Dental implant overload

The biting pressure on the implant must be kept near negligible until the implant is fully set inside the bone, and the bone is completely healed. The titanium screw acts like the root of a tooth, and it is not always appropriate to load it with 2-3 crowns, especially in posterior regions of the mouth, where the biting pressure is high.

Bending/braking of implants

Improper placement and too much force may lead to bending or even breakage of implants, which would necessitate their removal.

Medical risks

Implant problems are noted to be higher in heavy smokers and in people with weak immune systems. Also, in case of any systemic disease or blood disorder, the implant procedure may present with severe complications.

Management

Complications in implant cases are usually avoidable, but if they somehow occur, the problems are mostly manageable.  In cases of any unexplained discomfort or excessive pain after receiving the implant, the patient must contact his dentist at the earliest.

DentaVacation facilitates affordable dental treatments at various destinations across the world. For more information, submit the estimate-request form on the right.