What are the complications after dental implantation?

In our time, implantology has achieved truly incredible success. Experienced surgeons are able to implant, at a time, not only one tooth root, but an entire row of teeth. Of course, such operations require highly qualified dentists. However, sometimes negative consequences occur after operations, and even during the operations themselves. Less commonly, they occur several years after the seemingly successful implantation of implants into the jawbone. For each such case there are reasons. In this article we will tell you about them.

Why might complications occur?

There may be several reasons for complications after implantation of artificial dental roots. Some of them relate to the mistakes of dentists, and some of them relate to the fault of the patients themselves.

Medical errors include the following:

• incorrect choice of implant length;
• overheating of bone tissue at the site of implant installation;
• insufficient disinfection of the patient’s oral cavity;
• incorrect choice of prosthesis design;
• an error in assessing the physiology of the patient’s body in terms of susceptibility to a foreign body;
• use of low-quality titanium implants;
• use of outdated surgical equipment;
• careless installation of the prosthesis on the root.

The following reasons should be attributed to the fault of the patients themselves:

• careless oral hygiene after implantation;
• the patient's inability to give up bad habits;
• eating solid food during the implant healing stage;
• Irregular use of medications recommended by the surgeon.

For what reason may there be

Installation of implants can be complicated by a number of consequences. Complications may arise due to:

1. Medical errors : incompetence of the doctor, incorrect selection of the length of the implant, overheating of tissues during the formation of the hole for the implant, infection, errors in the positioning of the structure, peculiarities of the patient’s physiology, individual intolerance to the implant materials.
2. Use of low-quality implants and outdated equipment. A possible disadvantage of the implant may be a poor connection to the abutment.
3. Patient's guilt . Most often, failure to maintain sufficient hygiene. The area where the crown touches the gum is especially susceptible to the accumulation of tartar, which causes inflammation. Complications can be caused by failure to follow recommendations for taking medications and lifestyle.

Negative consequences of dental implantation can occur in:

• in the short term - before prosthetics;
• medium-term - within two years after implantation;
• long-term - after two years from the moment of implantation.

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Possible mistakes of surgeons

Negative consequences can occur even during careless operation. Let's name a few medical errors that, unfortunately, although rarely, happen.

Sometimes the doctor inadvertently overheats the head of the titanium root. This occurs due to overheating of the bur and hollow in the jaw bone. The reason for this is untimely irrigation of both.

If the doctor begins to tighten the implant screws while the cement is hardening, this ultimately leads to incorrect root installation, since the cement in this case cracks.

If the doctor does not place the head of the implant tightly in the hollow of the jaw bone, there is a risk of inflammation occurring, as bacteria enter the gap. In addition, loose placement of the head can lead to an imbalance of mechanical load on the entire prosthetic structure. This can cause peri-implantitis.

For prosthetics

The final stage of dental implantation involves the installation of dentures. To do this, the doctor:

• removes the gum former;
• installs the abutment (plays the role of an adapter from the intraosseous element to the crown);
• attaches a crown or orthopedic structure created from previously taken impressions of the patient’s jaw.

The orthopedic design must suit the patient taking into account the position of the implants. Errors can result in incomplete adhesion of the prosthetic attachments and abutments, leading to loosening of the implants. Inconsistencies between them lead to incorrect distribution of the load during operation, which also leads to damage to the structure and is fraught with rejection.

The coordinated work of the orthopedist and implantologist during preparation is extremely important.

Features of implantation in the upper jaw

The operation of implanting titanium roots into the upper jaw is always accompanied by considerable difficulties. This is due to the difficulty of access to the implant installation site and the close location of other organs. Often such operations are accompanied by complications. To make matters worse, the density of the maxillary tissue is lower than that of the mandibular bone. Because of this, it is necessary to drill a deep hole in the bone and install long implants. This can also cause postoperative complications.

During installation of the implant, the nasopalatine bundle, which is located in the center of the upper jaw behind the front teeth, may be injured. Such an injury causes prolonged bleeding, and this leads to the fact that the implant does not take root at all.

There is also a risk of damage to the sinuses and even nasal cavities. In both cases, sad complications are inevitable.

In case of damage to the neurovascular bundles located in the canine area, numbness of the upper lip occurs.

Dentistry knows cases where during implantation the integrity of the sinus floor was violated. This phenomenon leads to the occurrence of sinusitis.

There is also a risk of damage to the palatal artery, causing heavy bleeding.

All of the above may not happen if implantation is performed by experienced surgeons.

Complications during implant installation

Installing an implant involves introducing a titanium root into the bone. The classic protocol for the procedure is as follows:

1. The doctor makes an incision and carefully peels away the gum to access the bone.
2. Creates a hole of the required diameter in the bone tissue and screws in the implant.
3. Places a titanium plug on it until the tissue heals completely.
4. Places stitches. The tissues grow together in 1-2 weeks.

Bleeding may occur during surgery. The reason may be the inept actions of the implantologist (which is very rare), hypertension or bleeding disorders in a patient who did not warn the doctor about the disease. Moderate bleeding from the intervention area for 2-3 hours is normal. Heavy bleeding for more than 3 hours immediately after the intervention indicates a complication. Minor exudation is possible for up to 7 days.

Implantation in the lower jaw

Installing artificial roots in the lower jaw is much easier. However, there are certain problems here too, since there are areas on the lower jaw that should never be disturbed.

If during the operation the surgeon disturbs the mandibular branch of the trigeminal nerve, then the patient’s oral cavity will completely lose sensitivity.

If the wall of the mandibular canal is damaged, numbness of the lower lip and part of the chin occurs.

Injury to the external branch of the facial artery generally leads to severe bleeding, and here one cannot do without the help of a surgeon.

In what cases can implants cause harm?

Dental implantation is a surgical operation during which the dentist intervenes in the body and disrupts the integrity of the mucous and bone tissue in order to install an artificial root in the jaw. Despite this implementation, in 97–99% of cases everything goes well, without complications. Negative consequences from implantation are possible, as a rule, in cases where:

• The doctor is not properly qualified and not experienced enough. This operation requires the specialist to possess special skills at a high level.
• A cheap implant system is being installed. The success of the operation also largely depends on the quality of manufacturing of the artificial root, abutment, and former.
• The preparatory stage was absent or proceeded with violations. Before surgery, you need to undergo laboratory tests, undergo X-ray diagnostics, and establish the absence of contraindications.
• Doctor's recommendations are not followed.

During the period of recovery and osseointegration, it is necessary to strictly follow all the specialist’s instructions and follow his instructions on lifestyle and nutrition.

If irregularities are allowed or certain factors operate, problems may arise after implantation.

Early complications

In the first days after implantation, the patient may experience pain, sometimes very severe. Often, the dentist even prescribes painkillers to patients, which should never be abused. If the pain does not disappear after a week, this indicates that there is inflammation or nerve damage.

About two hours after implantation, swelling occurs in the patient’s mouth, and this is quite normal. It may not go away for a week. At this time, it is allowed to apply ice to the swollen areas. If after a week the swelling has not subsided, then most likely there is tissue inflammation.

The patient's gums may bleed slightly for two to three days after surgery. Blood oozes at the site of the implanted root. If the bleeding is significant, the cause may be poor blood clotting or high blood pressure. If the bleeding continues, then most likely the surgeon damaged a blood vessel. This, in turn, can cause a hematoma to appear at the implant site. Because of this, postoperative sutures may come apart and the wound may begin to rot.

During the first week after implantation, the patient experiences an elevated body temperature. This is quite normal if the temperature does not exceed 37.5 degrees. If it is higher or does not subside after a week, this means that an inflammatory focus has formed in the oral cavity. This phenomenon is usually accompanied by swelling.

There are cases where in the very first days after surgery, patients’ sutures came apart. This happens due to their careless application, due to mechanical damage from solid food, or due to the onset of inflammation.

If within five hours after the operation there is numbness of the tissues near the oral cavity, then you should not be afraid of this, because the anesthesia has not yet completely worn off. If the numbness continues to persist, then the nerve may have been damaged during implantation.

Recommendations after dental implantation

Statistics on dental implant failure indicate that the main reason for this outcome is the human factor*. Therefore, in order to avoid unnecessary complications, it is necessary to carefully choose the dentist where to place dental implants. It must be equipped with modern equipment, use high-quality implants that meet all standards, whose manufacturers must provide a guarantee in case of implant failure. Implantologists must undergo special training and have experience in performing such operations. Reviews from real patients of the clinics will be a good help in the difficult task of choosing a clinic that meets these criteria. And, of course, do not forget about the basics – regular and high-quality oral hygiene.

All consequences and complications after dental implantation can arise due to the fault of both the doctor and the patient, and sometimes an “X factor” independent of anyone plays a role. It is worth remembering that complications after implantation are still an exception to the rule. Therefore, you should boldly say to this unique technique: “YES!”

*Research data from the international company Nobel Biocare Russia

Late complications

Such complications can arise a year after the successful implantation of artificial roots and the installation of prostheses on them.

Peri-implantitis. Sometimes patients develop peri-implantitis after a year. In simple terms, this is inflammation of the bone tissue near the implant. Most often, the cause of its appearance is careless oral hygiene. Less commonly, the reason is a violation of the implant installation technology. In particular, there are known cases of damage to the gingival cuff and even the presence of cement in it.

It is possible to cure peri-implantitis with medication only at an early stage of its development. In this case, in any case, it is necessary to remove the prosthesis from the root and laser or ultrasonic cleaning of the implant itself. If tartar has formed in the oral cavity, then they must also be removed. Only after this are medications prescribed.

At a later stage of development of peri-implantitis, treatment is much more difficult. It is a complex of surgical and medical procedures. These include:

• ultrasonic sanitation of the oral cavity and gum pockets;
• opening the purulent focus and cleansing the tissue underneath;
• thorough disinfection of the implant;
• removal of dead tissue;
• prescribing a course of drug treatment.

The advanced stage of peri-implantitis cannot be treated. At this stage, the implant becomes mobile. In this case, it has to be removed from the jawbone. A new implant can be installed only after peri-implantitis is completely cured. Unfortunately, this is by no means a simple matter. Only 6 months after the cure of peri-implantitis is osteoplasty allowed, without which re-implantation of the titanium root in the same place is impossible.

Sinusitis. This complication manifests itself in the form of inflammation of the oral mucosa near the maxillary sinus. The treatment process does not require removal of the implant. Usually the problem is solved with drug treatment.

Mechanical damage. Complications due to mechanical damage arise solely through the fault of the patient when, in violation of the doctor’s recommendations, he became interested in eating too much solid food. In addition, mechanical damage to the structure can occur from malocclusion or bruxism. There are known cases where prostheses and even implants broke in such cases. It doesn't matter if the prosthesis breaks. It can be easily replaced. If the implant breaks, then its removal from the jawbone is required.

Average cost of treatment in Moscow

The cost of treating complications after implant placement varies depending on the severity of the consequences , extent of spread and treatment methods .

Non-survival of the implant

The phenomenon of implant rejection by bone tissue is extremely rare. There is only one way out of the situation - removal of the implants.

Implant rejection does not occur instantly, but in a certain sequence. Each stage of this phenomenon is accompanied by its own symptoms.

At the first stage of rejection, tissue inflammation occurs near the implant. This is followed by an enlargement of the pocket and thinning of the bone in the area of ​​the implant.

In the second stage, the height of the jawbone around the implant noticeably decreases. At the same time, gum detachment occurs until the abutment is exposed. The implant becomes mobile.

The third and final stage is characterized by destruction of the alveolar process and rejection of the implant itself.

The beginning of the implant rejection process can be determined by the following signs:

• swelling of the gums in the area of ​​the implant and next to it;
• general malaise;
• the appearance of pus in the oral cavity;
• the appearance of bleeding from the gums;
• enlargement of the gum pocket;
• implant mobility;
• increase in body temperature.

Dental implant systems with minimal risk

There is a huge variety of implants, differing in many ways.

Dental systems with an impeccable reputation are produced in Switzerland, Germany, and Israel.

To protect yourself as much as possible when choosing implants, you need to consider the following criteria :

• structures must be made of highly purified titanium ;
• the surface of the implant must have macro- and microthreads ;
• the presence of a conical connection between the implant and the abutment;
• lifetime warranty on the system;
• time of existence of the manufacturing company in the dental market.

Safe complications

Even after an impeccably performed implantation, natural complications always occur, which are the body’s natural reaction to mechanical intervention. We list the complications that you do not need to be afraid of:

• body temperature up to 37.5 degrees;
• swelling of the face;
• feeling of heaviness in the maxillary sinus;
• minor hematomas;
• quite tolerable pain.

All these troubles can only be endured for a week. If they do not disappear further, then, most likely, something went wrong during the implant healing process.

What to do to prevent the installation of implants from causing harm

To avoid complications during dental implantation, you need to cooperate with the implantologist and strictly adhere to the recommendations. It is important to familiarize yourself with some of the nuances of the procedure in order to recognize the danger.

Follow your doctor's recommendations

Expert advice is aimed at speeding up the implant healing process. But the main task is to protect a person from complications. Recommendations from experts that must be followed strictly:

1. Take prescribed medications (strictly on time, in the indicated doses, for the prescribed period).
2. Irrigate the oral cavity with antiseptic solutions (do this regularly for the required period to prevent tissue infection).
3. Monitor (by the visual condition of the gums or the patient’s own feelings) the process of implant integration, consult a doctor if alarming symptoms occur.
4. Care for the oral cavity according to the prescribed scheme (do not skip hygiene treatments, do it conscientiously).
5. Quit smoking for at least 2 weeks before and after surgery (bad habit slows down healing).

Choose quality implants

Cheap artificial roots have not undergone sufficient clinical testing, and it is impossible to predict safety and stability during use. The surface of the material may contain tiny foreign particles that interfere with osseointegration, which increases the risk of complications.

In our Center for dental implantation, implants from Nobel Biocare are used, which were developed based on the results of clinical research
over 50 years.
Nobel Biocare advantages:

• Survival rate 99,3%.
• The microstructure of the TI-Unite implant surface imitates root dentin; the artificial root takes root within 2 weeks .
• Protection against counterfeiting thanks to proprietary numbering of Nobel Biocare implants.
• Lifetime warranty.

Find out the cost

The price of implantation includes the cost of materials, preparation and operation of expensive equipment, and the services of several specialists on whom the result depends. Taking into account acceptable costs, dental implantation cannot cost 10-20 thousand rubles.

How can complications be prevented?

Practice shows that by strictly following all doctor’s recommendations, you can significantly reduce the risk of complications. To do this you need:

• regularly take the medications prescribed by the doctor;
• carefully perform oral hygiene;
• quit smoking;
• undergo annual x-ray diagnostics of the oral cavity;
• stop eating solid food;
• strictly adhere to the postoperative diet.