Unlike traditional tooth replacement options like dentures and dental bridges, getting dental implants involves a surgical procedure that fuses the implant with your jawbone. This is to provide a stable and more permanent foundation for a natural-looking artificial tooth. So, while they are considered generally safe, they do come with risks of complications and side effects, as with any medical procedure.
Factors such as your overall health, dental hygiene, and specific medical conditions can impact the success rate of dental implants. Because of these variables, the outcomes and risks of dental implant treatments can vary for each patient.
For tailored advice regarding your specific needs and circumstances, we recommend booking a consultation with our dental professionals at FoX Implant Centre. Our experienced dentists can help you understand the potential risks and side effects of getting dental implants and create a personalised treatment plan to ensure optimal results.
Get PricingUnderstanding what goes on in the implant placement procedure is key to understanding the potential risks and complications that come with these procedures.
At FoX Implant Centre, all dental implant procedures start with a thorough consultation, where an X-ray is taken to assess the health of your jawbone and to determine the best treatment approach.
During the implant placement, the titanium post is inserted into the jawbone where the missing tooth was. This titanium implant serves as an artificial root for your new tooth.
Once the implant is in place, a healing period called osseointegration begins, where the implant fuses with the jawbone, creating a strong foundation.
After the implant has fused with the bone, an abutment is attached to the implant. The abutment is a connector that helps to support the artificial tooth. Finally, the artificial tooth—usually a crown—is attached to the abutment, restoring the appearance and function of your natural teeth.
Because the procedure involves making incisions in the gum and drilling into the bone to anchor the artificial tooth, it naturally carries some risks like infections or damage to the surrounding gum tissue.
The body’s healing process is also crucial to the success of the dental implant treatment. Proper healing allows the implant to integrate effectively with the jawbone, providing a stable foundation that can support the artificial tooth for years to come.
Once the implant is placed in the jawbone, it takes time for the bone to heal around the implant—a process called osseointegration. This process can take several weeks to months, depending on your overall oral health and bone density.
To ensure proper healing and to minimise the risk of complications, it’s essential to follow post-surgery care instructions carefully.
Over-the-counter pain medication may be used to manage any discomfort during the healing process, and an ice pack can help reduce swelling in the immediate aftermath of the surgical procedure. Eating soft foods during the recovery period is also advised to avoid putting pressure on the implant site and to facilitate proper healing.
Immediately after the dental implant surgery, you can expect common side effects like:
Minor bleeding: It’s normal to experience some bleeding from the implant site after the surgery. This should subside within a few hours to a day. Applying gentle pressure with gauze can help control the bleeding.
Swelling: Swelling around the gums and face is a common reaction after implant surgery. This typically peaks within 48 hours and gradually reduces over the following days. An ice pack can help reduce swelling.
Bruising: You may notice bruising around the implant site or on the face. This is part of the body’s natural healing response and usually fades within a few days.
Discomfort or Pain: Post-surgical discomfort is expected, particularly near the implant site. Most patients can manage this with over-the-counter pain medication, and it should improve as the area heals.
Gum Tenderness: The area around the implant may feel sore or tender for a few days as the gums heal. Careful oral hygiene is essential during this period to avoid infection.
Jaw Stiffness: You might experience stiffness in your jaw after the procedure, especially if multiple implants were placed. This should resolve within a few days.
These side effects are generally mild and part of the normal recovery process. However, if they persist or worsen, it’s important to follow up with your dentist for further evaluation.
While immediate post-operative side effects are typically mild, dental implant surgeries may also result in more serious but rare potential complications like:
Infection can occur if bacteria enter the implant site during or after surgery. The risk of infection can be heightened by poor oral hygiene or if the gum tissue around the implant is not properly cared for. Ensuring that the area around the implant is kept clean is crucial in minimising the risk of infection.
When the implant is placed too close to a nerve, it may lead to nerve damage. This can cause numbness, tingling, or pain in the gum line, lips, or chin. That’s why it is very important to have a precise treatment plan and imaging, such as X-rays, to ensure the implant is placed in the correct position and avoid nerve complications.
For implants placed in the upper jaw, sinus problems can also be a risk.
Explain why upper jaw implants are more at risk of causing sinus problems and how dental implants can affect sinus cavity. If the implant protrudes into the sinus cavity, it can cause sinus issues or infections. Symptoms may include sinus pressure, headaches, or difficulty breathing.
As such, dental implant placement in the upper jaw requires careful imaging and evaluation of the sinus anatomy. This helps to ensure the implant is positioned safely and reduces the risk of it affecting the sinus space.
As mentioned, the implant placement surgery involves the surgeon making incisions in the gums and drilling into the jawbone to place the implant. If a blood vessel is accidentally nicked or damaged during this process, it can lead to excessive bleeding or even bruising in the area.
Blood vessel injuries may result in swelling, discomfort, or longer recovery times. In more serious cases, they can lead to the formation of a hematoma (a collection of blood outside the vessels), which may require additional treatment.
At FoX Implant Centre, our experienced team takes every precaution to minimise such risks and ensure a smooth procedure for every patient.
In rare cases, the body may reject a titanium implant if a patient has an allergic reaction to the material. Titanium is generally biocompatible, meaning it’s accepted by the body, but for a small number of patients, a sensitivity or allergy to the metal can occur.
When the body rejects the implant, it may lead to symptoms such as swelling, redness, or itching around the implant site. More serious signs of an allergic reaction can include prolonged pain, inflammation, or loosening of the implant as the body struggles to integrate the titanium implant into the bone.
If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to consult your dental professional for a thorough evaluation. At FoX Implant Centre, we carefully assess each patient’s medical history to minimise the risk of allergic reactions and ensure the best outcome for your dental implant treatment.
Bone grafting may be necessary for some dental implant cases when there is not enough healthy bone in the jaw to support the implant. This can happen due to bone loss from missing teeth, gum disease, or other factors. In such situations, a bone graft helps rebuild the jawbone to provide a strong foundation for the dental implant.
However, bone grafting introduces additional risks to the implant treatment process. Since it’s an extra surgical procedure, there is a higher chance of infection, longer healing times, and a potential for graft rejection.
The healing period after grafting is crucial, as the graft needs to properly integrate with the natural bone before implant placement. If the graft does not heal correctly, it may affect the success of the implant itself.
It is important to discuss these risks with your oral surgeon to understand whether bone grafting is necessary and how it may affect your dental implant treatment.
Several factors can worsen or lessen the risk of complications in dental implant procedures. These include:
To minimise the risks of dental implants and increase the chances of success, we recommend that you:
While rare, dental implant failures can happen. It’s important to recognise the signs early so that issues can be addressed promptly. Some of the common signs to watch out for include:
Mild pain is normal after surgery, but ongoing pain that doesn’t improve could indicate a problem with the implant.
A stable implant should not move. If you notice that your implant feels loose or shifts, it’s a clear sign that the implant may not have properly integrated with the bone.
While some swelling is expected post-surgery, prolonged or excessive swelling, redness, or tenderness around the implant site could signal an infection.
If the gums around the implant start pulling back, exposing more of the implant post, this could affect the stability and increase the risk of infection.
If chewing becomes painful or uncomfortable after the healing process, this could be another indicator that something isn’t right with the implant.
If you experience any of these signs, we recommend talking to our dentists as soon as possible. Early intervention can often resolve these issues and prevent further complications.
If you have any concerns about the safety of dental implants, our experienced dental professionals are here to help.
At FoX Implant Centre, we create a personalised treatment plan tailored to your unique needs, minimising the risks of complications and maximising your chances of a successful outcome. Our team, headed by Dr. Nick Trevlopoulos, brings years of experience in implant dentistry to every case.
We are also proud to be the only dental practice in Australia offering end-to-end full mouth restoration. This means that every stage of your treatment—from the initial consultation to crafting the implant and performing the surgery—is handled in-house, ensuring consistent quality. If required, we also provide general anaesthesia in-house, further reducing risks and helping ensure your comfort throughout the process.
Book a free consultation today to learn more about how we may be able to help you achieve your best smile.