Getting a dental implant is one of the best ways of replacing a missing or damaged tooth. The implant treatment process is a form of dental surgery, and surgery always has some risks. The risks are minimal for a dental implant, but you should know about them because an informed patient makes a good patient. Below are some of these risks.

Infection

A dental implantation process involves invasive surgery that bruises some tissues. The bruised tissues can pick up germs in the mouth, which can lead to infected dental implant sites. If you don't treat the infection, it might spread and cause complications elsewhere.

Unintended Injuries

In rare cases, the dental implant process ends up injuring nearby tissues. The gums and nearby teeth are some of the tissues that face this risk. Luckily, the injuries are usually minimum can be easily treated.

Nerve Damage

It is also possible for the implantation process to trigger nerve injuries. The nerves sense stimuli, control, and connect various parts of the body. Damaged nerves lead to further problems such as numbness, pain, and unfamiliar sensations in the mouth.

Sinus Problems

The sinuses are hollow points in the skull; there are several sinuses on each side of the face. The sinuses most likely to be affected by a dental implant are the maxillary sinuses, which sit on the cheekbones. An implant might cause a sinus problem if the upper jawbone is inadequate, and the implant intrudes into the sinus cavity.

Implant Failure

Dental implants are successful over 98% of the time, which means there is a tiny risk of failure. An implant that fails to integrate with your natural tissues is considered to have failed has to be removed. Infections, smoking, inadequate jawbone, and not following the dentist's orders are some of the things that lead to implant failure.

Allergic Reactions

The most common dental implant material is titanium alloy. A few people are allergic to the material. If you are one of them, then you might develop allergic reactions after the insertion, in which case you can't stay with the implant.

Foreign Body Rejection

Foreign body rejection is a phenomenon in which the body identifies a foreign substance as such and works to expel it. Although rare, it is possible to experience foreign body rejection after getting a dental implant. In such a case, the implant site might swell, and you might also develop a fever.

Your dentist will discuss these with you and any other potential risks of the procedure. The dentist will also advise you on what to do to minimize and deal with the risks. Listen to your dentist keenly, and you are unlikely to go wrong with your dental implant treatment.

For more information, contact a clinic like Brandywine Dental Care.