How Safe Are Dental Implants – What You Need To Know

Over the past twenty years, dental implants have become the ‘go to’ procedure for the replacement of missing teeth and are seen by most dental professionals as the gold standard treatment because of their many advantages.

However, if you happen to be one of the many millions of Americans who are considering undergoing teeth implants, you might be asking the question “just how safe are dental implants?”

Here’s what you need to know…

As we briefly mentioned earlier, implant-based restorations are the most recommended procedure to replace missing teeth due to decay, disease or trauma.

So why is this?

Aside from being a permanent and lifelike form of tooth replacement offering a natural and comfortable feel, dental implants have a 95% success rate.

This means that other than issues caused by poor oral hygiene, 95% of all dental implant patients will have no trouble with their implant or implants over a minimum ten year period.

Naturally, our dentist here in Chesterfield will want you to get the best results possible and this is why we will often recommend dental implants over traditional bridges and dentures.

But that leads to the question…

Is everyone eligible for dental implants?

It’s important to remember that dental implant treatment involves a surgical procedure – the placement of the implant into the jaw at the missing tooth site. So, like all surgery, the placement of a dental implant carries a certain element of risk.

Therefore, those people who are typically at risk when undergoing other types of surgery, may not be eligible for dental implants. They include:

• People with heart disease or severe heart conditions
• People who are severely overweight or obese
• People who are currently undergoing radiation treatment for cancer, particularly around the head and neck area

In these cases, it would be risky to subject them to dental implant surgery and as a result, our dentist may suggest modern alternatives to dental implants that don’t involve a surgical process.

How Safe Are Dental Implants – Other Conditions

In addition to those categories listed above, there are also other patient conditions where the immediate use of dental implants isn’t advisable. They include:

• The presence of periodontal (gum) disease
• A lack of adequate healthy bone
• Those who currently smoke
• Pre-existing conditions such as diabetes

That said, these conditions or lifestyle choices don’t necessarily rule out undergoing dental implant treatments.

If, for instance, gum disease is an issue, our dentist will look to treat the problem first. Likewise, if a lack of bone is a problem, our team can also perform a procedure known as a bone graft to build the levels of bone back up. This ensures the best stability for a newly placed implant. Smokers will be asked to quit for the duration of their treatment to ensure timely bone growth – a highly important factor in the stability of dental implants.

Finally, for those with pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, our dentist will look to access each case on an individual basis in order to reduce any risk involved.

So Is The Dental Implant Procedure Safe?

In a word, yes! So long as pre-screening is correctly carried out, then It’s as safe as any other minor surgical procedure.

Moreover, during the process itself, every precaution is taken to ensure the utmost safety. For example, the implant itself is made from titanium, a biocompatible material that shouldn’t cause a reaction.

Furthermore, throughout the short surgical procedure, patients typically remain awake but sedated to keep them comfortable and pain-free during the process. And in addition, patients are also carefully monitored at all times.

Safety First

As you can see, dental implants have a solid reputation for being both safe and successful. That’s the reason why over 5 million Americans choose implant-based restorations every single year.

At Chesterfield Dentistry, our highly skilled team always put the needs of the patient first. We’ll take into account all your unique requirements before we make any recommendations for treatment including how safe are dental implants for your given situation.

If you are considering getting dental implants, then why not schedule a consultation with Dr Akinwande and her team. She will be able to tell you if implant-based restorations are a good and safe option for you.

Call today on (314) 786-3360 to book an appointment.