Dental complications can always happen, but when they happen after a significant investment of time and money, it is devastating. Let us look at some of the complications dental implants Leicester can suffer from and what we do to mitigate them.
Post-operative infection
Unfortunately, post-operative infections are becoming a more significant part of medicine and they are a much bigger problem in hospitals as opposed to clinics, due to the presence of antibacterial-resistant strains of many common infections.
Thankfully, we have rarely experienced post-operative infection in the implants we have carried out. When it has happened, a long course of antibiotics is required, as the blood flow to the tissues immediately around the implant is limited meaning longer courses and relatively high doses of antibiotics are required, much like the treatment of bone infections. If patients have a suppressed immune system, we usually use antibiotics preventively before carrying out the implantation, further minimising the chances of infection.
Slow or lack of bone growth
Osseointegration is essential to secure long-lasting and practical implants. This makes conditions affecting bone growth and bone density particularly challenging. Some surgeries reject such patients, choosing not to treat them rather than risking their surgery’s reputation. We endeavour to be an inclusive clinic and will fully explain the chances of successful treatment in the event of conditions like osteoporosis and proceed if the patient wishes. Preparation treatments are possible like HRT support, to attempt to increase bone density. If that is not an option, bone grafting can make the difference between a successful and unsuccessful procedure. But we are always cautious to manage expectations with challenging cases.
Surgical excellence
Clinical excellence has a central role in the success of oral implants. If it did not, there would not be statistical correlations between clinics, and surgeries would not compete over their success rates. We are very proud of our extensive history of providing implants, being one of the clinics early to adopt dental implants Leicester, and investing in the prerequisite skills and additional training for our entire team.
Movement during integration
The dental implants Leicester procedure is divided into two phases. During the first phase, the gum is opened and the implant is placed into the jawbone. The gum is then closed and sealed. This protects the involved gum tissue, minimising the chance of movement and allowing it to remain undisturbed as new bone grows.
This is not always the case. One-piece implants or immediately loaded implants result in a prosthetic tooth that is attached to an unanchored titanium component. This means they can be knocked, jolted and even twisted. Disruption to the formation of the titanium-bone interface during this formative stage is particularly damaging, weakening the bond that forms for the rest of the life of the prosthetic. Patients have to be extremely cautious with them and there is a significant risk of having a misaligned or poorly oriented tooth. This is why we do not carry out immediate loading or single-part implants at our clinic.
For more information about oral implants, call us today at Smile Care Dental Clinic!