Some Short- And Long-Term Problems Following A Dental Implant

As getting a dental implant is a surgical process, the patient is expected to feel some pain and discomfort following the procedure. However, this should abate within a couple of weeks; if it does not, then there could be a complication with the implant. Similarly, if you had an implant months or even years ago, there are a couple of conditions that can lead to long-term problems:

Short-Term Issues

If you have had dental implants recently, but have allowed yourself enough time to recover, and are still uncomfortable sensations or pain, the following factors may be at play:

• Nerve Issues – if you feel any numbness at all in your lips or chin, this can indicate that the implant has been positioned too close to a nerve or that the nerves  were damaged while surgery was being undertaken
• Mouth Infection – this can be a common problem following an implant. Gums can swell up, causing a bad taste to develop in your mouth. This is usually accompanied by pain and/or discomfort. Antibiotics can be prescribed by the dentist.
•  Poor Integration – the implant is expected to begin to bond with the jawbone quite quickly. As it does so, the implant is secured very tightly into place. However, sometimes the implant fails to bond properly with the jawbone, leaving it loose. As it moves, it can cause a fair bit of pain and discomfort.
• Loose Caps – healing caps are usually secured onto the implant, and issues can be caused if these caps are not fixed into place securely enough. If a cap is loose, the patient can experience a feeling of pressure, accompanied by pain. The remedy is to have the dentist re-secure the caps into place.

Long-Term Issues

Sometimes, an implant can cause problems a few months after it has been in place. After this time, the implant has successfully meshed to the jawbone, but some issues can occur after this:

• Wear and Tear – implants that have been in place for several months or years can sometimes wear down quite quickly, and this can sometimes change your bite. This, in turn, can cause discomfort and pain.
• Loose Attachments – if you have an implant that has been in place and in use for an extended period of time, the attachments – such as the cement or the screws – can work their way loose, causing pain. The dentist will be able to replace any cement or tighten loose screws.

It is important to seek advice from your dentist if you continue to feel pain from an implant a while after it has been in place. To learn more, contact a company like Manuka Dental Care.