Problems After Implant

Short-term complications that may occur in successful implant applications are symptoms such as pain, swelling, redness, bruising, and sensitivity.

Post-implantation complications are usually short-lived, not very severe, and can be reduced and eliminated with necessary precautions (such as cold compress application, antibiotic prophylaxis, anti-inflammatory use, mouthwash use, etc.).

In some cases, despite the dentist not making a clear mistake and the initial primary healing, infection can occur and implant loss can be experienced. Such a complication may arise from an unnoticed sterilization problem or the patient not following the dentist's recommendations.

If the dentist fails to pay attention to certain criteria during the implant application and makes a clear mistake, much more serious and severe complications may arise. There are no serious complications directly related to the implant itself. Serious complications related to implants are complications that occur due to application errors.

The general complications that may occur in successful implant applications are pain, swelling, redness, bruising, and tenderness. These complications are usually short-lived, not very severe, and can be reduced quickly with necessary precautions such as cold compresses, antibiotic prophylaxis, anti-inflammatory use, mouthwash use, etc.

In some cases, despite the absence of a clear mistake made by the dentist and the initial primary healing, an infection may occur, and implant loss may occur. Such a complication may result from an unnoticed sterilization problem or failure of the patient to follow the dentist's recommendations.

If a dentist does not pay attention to certain criteria during implant application and makes a clear mistake, much more serious and severe complications may occur. (See also: Are there any serious complications associated with implants? If so, what are they?)

There is no serious complication directly related to the implant itself. The serious complications associated with implants are those that result from application errors.

Important implant complications include: large sinus perforation, implant leakage into the sinus, and sinusitis associated with these. Mandibular nerve perforation, mandibular nerve tear, implant placement in the mandibular nerve area, and permanent numbness in the lip associated with these. Large perforation in the adjacent tooth root due to incorrect implant placement angle, resulting in the need for tooth extraction.

Complications that occur due to inadequate cooling, such as wide burns in the jawbone and the formation of necrotic areas, which can result in complications as severe as osteomyelitis.

Inflammation resulting from incorrect implant applications and vertical and horizontal bone losses, soft tissue losses as a result. Collapses in the area where tissue losses occur, etc.

Such serious complications are mostly due to clear surgical application errors.

As we often say, implant application is a very simple and easy surgical procedure in one aspect, but it is also a very serious and delicate one. Surgical procedures undertaken without sufficient knowledge and experience can result in severe and serious complications. The compensation for these severe complications is often very difficult or not at the desired level. For example, compensation for vertical bone losses and resulting soft tissue losses is very limited.

Do implants cause gum disease?

Implants do not disturb the gum, and screw teeth are one hundred percent biologically compatible and have no adverse effects on the gum. The reasons for gum problems seen in the implant area are different (failure to comply with the implant procedure in terms of implant and screw-to-gum compatibility, lack of adequate oral care are the two fundamental reasons).

Do implants cause pain?

A healthy implant does not cause any pain during chewing. If pain is felt in the area where the implant is located during chewing, the tissue integrity in this area has been compromised. In other words, there is an infection/inflammation in the bone surface where the screw tooth is located or in the gum tissue. What are the causes of pain in implant treatment?

Rarely, poorly designed prostheses can also cause pain during chewing in implants, and this condition is resolved by rearranging the prosthesis.

Implant infections can occur either in the early or late stages. The infection in the implant area can be caused by the dentist or the patient.

Causes:

• If a sufficiently sterile work is not carried out,
• If the implant is not placed at the correct angle to surround the jawbone completely,
• If the implant is forced into an inappropriate area,
• If the soft tissue covering is not done correctly,
• If the patient's oral hygiene is poor,
• If the patient does not follow the doctor's recommendations, does not take the necessary medication regularly,
• If unwanted forces from the prosthesis are transmitted to the implant due to inadequate prosthesis design,
• If the patient smokes excessively,
• If the patient does not have regular cleaning and tartar removal, and does not attend routine checks, and many other factors may cause inflammation in the area where the implant is located and the infection to start. In case of infection, it is extremely important for your implant and general health to consult your doctor immediately.

How to identify the presence of infection: Failure of swelling in the postoperative period to subside (should not be confused with swelling that may occur within the first two days), high fever, yellow pus discharge from the surgical site may be signs of infection. In the long term, symptoms such as swelling and fistula-like bumps on the gum in the implant area may be a sign of infection.

Treatment: In early diagnosis, the patient can be treated without losing the implant. After cleaning and sterilizing the infected area with surgical instruments or laser, the problem can be resolved with appropriate antibiotic treatment. In cases where late diagnosis and treatment fail, the implant is removed, the infection area is cleaned, and antibiotic treatment is applied. After the relevant area is healed, the implant can be re-placed if necessary with bone strengthening if required. The healing process depends on the level of the bone defect affected by the infection and can take anywhere from 1 week to 6 months to heal.

The question of whether pain occurs after implant placement is one of the most worrying issues. Will I experience a lot of pain after the numbness subsides after the implant procedure? Will there be a lot of swelling?

After implant placement, many of our patients report using a pain reliever on the same night, but do not need it the next day. The severity of the pain is not much different from the pain after tooth extraction. However, it should be noted that implant, implant dental treatment, and screw tooth application are ultimately surgical procedures, and it is normal to experience some pain and mild swelling for 1-2 days after the procedure.

The discomfort that occurs after the implant procedure is not the same in everyone and can vary from person to person due to differences in their immune system and reaction. Therefore, while some people may experience more pain, others may not even need pain relievers after a short time.

The severity of the discomfort after the procedure is generally directly proportional to the duration of the implant surgery and the complexity of the procedure. Because some implant and screw tooth applications may require extra bone augmentation and wider surgical areas, more trauma may occur, and the operation time may be longer. The same applies to cases where open sinus lifting surgery is performed. After these types of implant surgeries, it is natural to experience more pain and swelling discomfort. This pain can be significantly reduced with the use of pain relievers. Swelling and bruising will disappear within about a week. In most standard implant cases without advanced surgery, swelling and bruising may not occur.

The dentist who will perform the procedure should inform the patient about the possible discomfort that may occur after the procedure, in parallel with the size and complexity of the operation. The patient should be very careful in the following weeks after the implant treatment and strictly follow the dentist's instructions. During this period, smoking should be avoided, and if the dentist gives a diet plan, it should be followed. If any issues arise outside the areas specified by the dentist, the patient should contact the dentist as soon as possible.

Such a thing is definitely not possible. There is a direct fusion between the implant and the jawbone. There is no other layer or tissue that will provide movement between them. It is not possible for the implant, which has been properly fused with the bone, to become loose.

We sometimes have patients come to our clinic complaining that their implant is loose. However, after the necessary examination, it is understood that the looseness is not due to the implant itself, but rather to the cement or adhesive of the crown that is cemented/adhered on top of the implant, or due to the loosening of the screw of the abutment, which is the part that forms the superstructure of the implant and is fixed to the implant with a screw. Such looseness is immediately resolved, and the crown is re-cemented or the screw is tightened to the appropriate torque value, and the problem is resolved in a short time.

A healthy implant should not cause any pain during chewing. If pain is felt at the site of the implant during chewing, it means that there is a disruption in the tissue integrity in that area. This could indicate the presence of an infection or inflammation in the bone surface or gum tissue where the implant is placed.

Rarely, poorly designed implants can also cause pain during chewing, but this issue can be resolved by readjusting the prosthesis.

Implants do not disturb the gum tissue, as they are 100% biologically compatible and do not have any adverse effects on the gum tissue. The gum problems seen in the implant area are caused by other factors, such as improper implant-prosthesis-gum tissue compatibility, lack of adequate oral hygiene, which are the two main reasons.

Implants do not directly cause numbness in the lip. If there is persistent numbness in the lip, it is called paresthesia. This condition is not caused by the implant itself but rather by a medical error.

There is no regional nerve line close to the area where an implant will be placed in the upper jaw, so it is not likely to cause numbness in the lip.

In the lower jaw, there is a nerve canal that extends from the back of the jaw to the small molar area. If this nerve canal is damaged during implant placement, and the implant is placed in such a way as to put pressure on the nerve, there can be a disruption in the nerve conduction resulting in persistent numbness in the lip.

This is a very rare complication that generally arises due to a medical error. Long-term paresthesia is one of the most severe complications of lower jaw implantation. In such cases, the patient should immediately see their doctor and the implant should be removed.

Numbness in the lip may not always be associated with the main nerve canal; sometimes it can be due to thinner side branches, and the dentist is not at fault. If numbness is associated with side branches, this condition usually improves with B vitamin supplementation within 2-6 months.

When placing implants in the back of the lower jaw, the dentist should be very careful and make a very detailed x-ray analysis. The dentist should also plan the length of the implants carefully to stay within 1.5 mm of the nerve canal.

The black gum appearance in the area where an implant is placed is due to the reflection of the metal that is visible through the gum tissue. This typically occurs in cases where there is insufficient gum tissue and the neck portion of the implant is exposed outside of the bone. Since the back teeth are not visible when smiling, this does not usually pose a significant problem. However, in the case of the front teeth which are visible and relate to the aesthetics, the presence of a black reflection is an unwanted outcome and completely ruins the aesthetics.

When an expert dentist performs implant procedures in the aesthetic area of the front teeth, they must adjust the implant-gum exit profile perfectly without disrupting the red-white harmony in order to avoid black reflections and papilla loss (the destruction of the scalloped architecture of the gum). Even if the implant is successfully placed, a patient who has received an implant in the front area but has black gum reflections or black triangle spaces due to papilla loss around the gum tissue is considered an unsuccessful result because an asymmetrical, black and bad-looking appearance occurs. Patients who experience this outcome tend to be very unhappy and may regret having had the implant procedure.

Implant procedures in the front area require highly sensitive and precise work that must comply with all of the criteria of aesthetic dentistry.

There is absolutely no odor caused by the implant material itself. Implants are biologically compatible and non-oxidizing substances. Therefore, they do not produce any odor.

If patients feel an odor in the implant area, there are other reasons for this. The gum alignment around the implant may not have been done properly, causing food buildup, the prosthesis on the implant may not have been made to fit perfectly, or excess cement residue may have remained during the cementation of the implant prosthesis. In other words, there is always a factor that enables/facilitates the adherence of oral bacteria to that area for there to be an odor. In such a case, the patient should schedule an appointment with the dentist who performed the prosthesis to determine whether there is a problem related to the prosthesis.

If there is no factor that enables bacterial adhesion, there will be no odor problem with implants. However, if a person does not regularly clean the implants, does not use cleaning materials such as regular brushing and flossing, an odor can develop after a while. These types of odors are usually felt not only in the implant area but also in almost every area of the mouth. You can visit our oral and dental care page in our post-treatment section to learn how to take care of your mouth and teeth properly.

There is no metal fatigue or ionization in implants. Therefore, they do not create a metallic taste in the mouth.

If you have excessive tartar buildup on your natural teeth, unwanted tartar can also form around the prosthesis in the implant area. When regular dental cleanings are performed, tartar buildup around the screw-retained prosthesis can be easily removed by your dentist.

Can a guarantee be given for implant success?

In no area of ​​medicine related to human health can 100% guarantee be given. The human body is a complex mechanism that is affected by many factors. Therefore, even for a simple filling treatment, no 100% guarantee can be given, let alone surgical treatments for oral and dental health.

The most important factor affecting the success of implant treatment is proper planning and treatment. The second most important factor is the patient's care for oral and dental health, and regular and recommended oral and dental care. The third important factor is the use of high-quality materials and tools in the necessary hygienic environment for treatment. When these three factors come together, the success rate of the implant increases, and the patient can live a comfortable life without the need for additional treatment for many years.

Even if the above-mentioned three factors are met, the successful results of the treatment may disappear in the short, medium or long term due to other factors. A significant health problem in the person's body can negatively affect oral, jaw and gum health, and bring problems that include the implant area. These problems will create similar risks for a completely healthy mouth where no implant exists.

What factors affect implant success?

It is also worth mentioning that, in individuals with very well-calculated diagnosis and treatment, successful implementation, necessary warnings given to the patient, and regular maintenance/cleaning performed in accordance with these warnings, screw-type dental treatment can function healthily for very long years (according to research, this period is between 20-40 years). Therefore, some implant companies provide guarantees for their implants for certain periods. However, these guarantees are not unlimited guarantees, but guarantees valid under certain conditions. The patient may also consider these when choosing the implant brand. In addition, even though long-term guarantees provide free replacement of the implant, necessary surgical procedures and other materials used for the implant will be outside the scope of the guarantee.

Most of the problems related to the implant not bonding with the bone and surgical problems occur within a few months after surgical treatment. Therefore, guarantees in this area are more comprehensive than short and long-term guarantees. The patient can learn this information in detail from their dentist during the planning stage and evaluate this information before making a treatment decision.

The guarantee for implant-supported prostheses is evaluated differently from the implant. Short and medium-term guarantees can be given depending on the type of problem experienced with implant-supported prostheses. For more information on this, you can consult us.

There is no single procedure determined for medication use in implant treatment. The use of medication varies depending on the case. Factors such as the patient's age, weight, general health condition, existence of medication allergies, and stomach problems directly affect the type and dosage of medication to be used. Additionally, there are significant differences in medication procedures between a simple implant surgery and a more complex implant surgery requiring advanced surgical techniques.

Along with implant surgery, the medications prescribed by the dentist to the patient are mostly aimed at preventing infection in the tissues around the implanted area during the first week of the healing period. This generally includes an appropriate antibiotic tablet to be taken orally and an appropriate anti-inflammatory tablet to be taken orally. In addition, an antibacterial mouthwash is prescribed to the patient. Except for pain relief medications, medications should not be discontinued until the pain subsides and they should be used as prescribed by the dentist. In case of any side effects other than those specified by the dentist, the patient should urgently consult the dentist.

In deciding on medication preference in threaded dental treatment, the dentist evaluates the patient in every respect and makes a decision. The dentist should also explain to the patient every detail regarding medication use after implant treatment and warn them about possible side effects. The patient should inform the dentist about the medications they are already taking, and the dentist should take this into account when prescribing medication.

Yes, you can have an MRI or X-ray after getting an implant. Dental implants are made of biocompatible materials such as titanium, which are not affected by magnetic fields or radiation. However, it is important to inform your radiologist or dentist that you have dental implants before undergoing any imaging tests, as they may need to use specific techniques or equipment to avoid any interference with the implant. Additionally, if you have recently undergone implant surgery, your dentist may advise you to wait a few weeks or months before undergoing certain types of imaging tests to allow for proper healing.