Are Dental Implants Safe?

Dental implants are effectively permanent false teeth. They are strong, fixed replacement teeth which are so closely matched to your natural teeth that it is virtually impossible to tell them apart. Thousands of patients undergo dental implant surgery every year with very few complications, yet it is only natural to be anxious about the safety of any treatment you might be thinking of undergoing.

One of the reasons why so many people undergo dental implants treatment each year is because they are so safe and result in so few complications. It has long been understood that dental implants work best in those patients who have strong and healthy gums and jaw, but advancements in the treatment have meant that the treatment is accessible to even those patients who may not have adequate haw bone density. This is because although the implants must be fitted directly into the jaw bone, bone grafts are now available to stabilise the jaw bone before the dental implants are fitted. The only difference that this will make is that where bone grafts are required, the entire process will take longer.

There are no limits on the number of dental implants that a patient can have. Treatment can replace a single missing tooth, a few or an entire upper or lower jaw. Although more expensive, implants are preferable to removable dentures because they help to preserve the jaw bone whereas dentures can cause damage to the gum and bone.

Dental implants themselves are fused directly into the bone. They are made from titanium which is perfectly safe as it is hypoallergenic. This means that reactions to the implants are almost unheard of.

The treatment itself is also very low risk. It is carried out in stages, to allow adequate healing in between placing the implants and the actual artificial teeth on top. In the first instance the gum is stripped back to allow insertion of the dental implants. This, like the other phases of the surgery, is carried out under a local rather than general anaesthetic. The single biggest risk factor for patients undergoing any type of surgery is the general anaesthetic, and the fact that this risk is reduced makes this type of surgery very safe.

Although dental implants can be costly and there is some pain associated, they are a better long term investment than dentures. They will preserve the jawbone and there is no reason at all why they can’t last a lifetime as long as close attention is paid to the home care advice given by the dentist, as well as regular appointments with the dentist attended.