Losing a tooth is a frustrating experience, but thankfully you can fill the gap of your missing tooth with the use of high-quality dental implants. However, some individuals may be afraid of this procedure or suffer from extreme anxiety when visiting a dentist. Anyone experiencing these anxieties needs to understand the purpose and safety level of this procedure fully, including the few rare side effects.
People who lose a tooth need to replace it to protect the health of their jaw, gums, and the rest of the teeth in their mouth. However, dental anxiety can make any restorative process nearly impossible for some individuals. Simply put, fear of surgical procedures like these can cause panic attacks or make the operation very uncomfortable.
And the nature of dental implant surgery may trigger higher levels of fear than other types of operations. Though the process of installing one is relatively simple, those with high dental anxiety may struggle to feel safe. Thankfully, this process is very, very safe.
Dentists started using dental implants more than 50 years ago and, since then, have perfected their installation. Simple upgrades in dental technology, including better material quality and an increased understanding of implant maintenance, makes these medical tools one of the safest and most effective ways to replace a missing tooth.
While this procedure may seem extremely painful, individuals receive sedation to avoid suffering. This sedation may numb the gum and keep the patient awake during the operation. Or some individuals may need to be put to sleep to avoid anxiety. Talk to a dentist about this possibility to ensure that fear doesn't ruin the effectiveness of this installation method.
Anyone worried about their implants can take heart in the fact that the procedure is very safe and sedation will help to relieve any pain. Make sure to talk to a dentist about the process to better understand what it entails and to ask any further questions.
Just as important, make sure to know a few of the rare side effects of this treatment. Thankfully, these issues very rarely occur and usually only in individuals with specific health concerns.
Though dental implants typically trigger minimal problems, a few concerns do occur from time to time. For example, individuals who are sensitive or allergic to the metals used in implants may experience adverse reactions. For example, copper, zinc, lead, nickel, and iron allergies may cause complications that make dental implants impossible.
Implants also need strong and healthy gums and jaw bones to support their insertion. Poor oral health may cause complications with the procedure and may even cause the implant to fall out if gum or bone health is too weak. Even worse, rare instances of galvanic corrosion - caused by acidic reactions with the titanium in the implant - could cause decay in other metal fillings in the mouth.
When galvanic corrosion occurs, an individual may experience increased sensitivity in the mouth and other side effects. Even worse, decay in other parts of the mouth may increase and cause further dental deterioration. In this scenario, an individual may need to get implants made out of different types of metals. Talk to the dentist about this possibility to ensure that it doesn't ruin the success of an implant.
The safety of dental implants makes them an excellent choice for someone missing a tooth. But if you're still worried about this procedure and don't know if it is right for you, please contact us at Dr. M. Dawn Harvey, DMD, PC to learn more.
