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Dental Implant Complications
Maria, a patient, asks us:
I had dental implant surgery on Wednesday of this week. Teeth 9/10, 9 was missing and 10 was removed. I got very swollen on Wednesday night and Thursday.
Now, I have discomfort right under my front tooth. I wore a dental flipper the first night as told. My
lip still feels stiff in this area. Number 9 had a bone graft.
Is this normal? My periodontist who did the work only works at my dental office on Wednesday's. This Wednesday I get the stitches out. I also feel the discomfort whenever I eat and I've been eating soft foods that don't require much chewing. Is this discomfort normal? I can't raise the lip much in this area yet. Wondering if all this is part of the pain and discomfort with grafting and implants at the same time. If anyone can share their thoughts with dental implants and the pain and stiffness that
goes with it, I'd appreciate it alot. Thank you for any help you can provide.
March 21, 2006 in Treatment Planning & Complications | Permalink
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Comments
This can be normal. You don't make any mention of how difficult #10 was to remove. The front lip is a very sensitive area. Patients can get swelling and bruising associated with treatment in this area, especially if your tooth was difficult to remove.
It does sound like you have had a more complicated case than normal, with grafting added into the mix.
Usually this discomfort subsides in about 7 to 10 days. I would suggest applying a warm face washer onto your external upper lip, to help ease brusing and swelling. Keep wearing the flipper denture if you can. This can not only provide a little protection to the area, but also help keep the shape of the gum intact.
I would assume that your periodontist provided you with a script for antibiotics. Keep taking these. I normally supply my patients with my contact numbers to help ease your anxiety. Perhaps if you ring their office, they will be able to put you in touch.
Hope that helps.
Posted by: Dr. G.D. | Mar 21, 2006 2:50:22 PM
Dr. G. D.
From Maria,
Thank you for your help. # 10 wasn't too hard to extract from what my Perio said. I'm stil having some pain and discomfort, not a constant one. I had my dentist check it out on Tuesday, he said that the gums looked good. Then on Wednesday of this week my periodontist removed the stitches, said it looked good and continue with advil or motrin for pain and that he'll see me in 4 months. How could they tell just by looking at the gums that everything looks good with some pain yet? I inquired about a film, but didn't get one. Yikes, I hope they don't fail or anything on me because I've been toothless since last June when someone messed up on replacing a front bridge. Enough about that, that's why I chose to get implants, something all new to me. I pray they will work.
Posted by: Maria | Mar 23, 2006 5:52:01 PM
Any information would be appreciated. Thank you!
Carol
Posted by: Carol G | Apr 7, 2006 6:27:59 AM
Hi! Dentist is encouraging implants since it prevents bone loss and prevents upper teeth from coming loose. No bone loss to date (teeth missing 20 years).Upper teeth not coming loose. Missing teeth do not show and happy to leave well enough alone. What are your thoughts? Thank you! Carol G
Posted by: Carol G | Apr 7, 2006 6:41:11 AM
Hi Maria, Wow, Do I have a story for you. After working in a dental office for 8 years, and working closely with the famous Dr. Gorden G. Christensen, I felt I had a strong knowlegde of dentistry. I found myself in a fractured tooth #11 situtation and needed an extraction, and implant placed. I went to a periodontist that I had known for 8 years. Being a patient was very different. I thought the implant process was a little easier. After the 1 day from in placement in implant, I developed a infection, so bad, I was hemmoraging out my nose. My friend/periodontist hardly blinked and asked if I had been following protocol with the surgery. Of course I had been. The pain and pressure was and still is so powerful, I made an appt. with an ENT in another town. A CAT scan was done, and I filled with pus from my eye socket to my chin. The ENT said it could take up to 6 weeks to get cleared up, and sinus surgery is quite possible. Has my periodontist called me back,? NO, did he come up the the front desk when I dropped off a copy of my CAT scan?,No. I am seriously begining to wonder that once he has his 3,000, in his hot little hand, if the patient on their own. Apparently so. It has been a nightmare, and a lawyer will be brought in. Keep an eye on your infection, they can be so serious in the face and head/neck. If you feel unconfortable with something, act upon it,and don't worry about sounding like a complainer. Its your body,and your teeth. You have a right to quaility dental care. Good Luck,
Kathy
Posted by: kathy Burns | Apr 21, 2006 11:10:13 PM
Kathy, your treatment recovery is not normal in any way. Infection can occur with any surgical procedure, but we make every attempt to prevent this beginning with our presurgical assesment, case planning, surgical tecnnique, pre and post surgical antibiotic coverage, and post-op care. Fortunately infections are the exception rather than the norm. When infection does occur it is usually only a nuisance and is easily controlled and resolved with a normal and successful treatment result. I agree your surgeon needs to be attentive to you personally in these situations not only to ensure the problem is under control, but also to reassure you and show care and compassion during a difficult time. It is important for any patient with post op concerns to make certain the dental staff and the dentist fully appreciate what is happening and how they feel. For the vast majority of implant patients, the treatment is well tolerated, perhaps two or three days of mild to moderate discomfort easily controlled using tylenol or ibuprophen analgesics. This is especially true of a single implant including those in the uppur front. I wish you and Maria both a good recovery and excellent outcome!
Posted by: steve m | Apr 26, 2006 9:40:40 AM
hello all,
I am in the process of deciding to have implants put in to replace a partial plate i have been dealing with for 20 yrs. although the concept of implants make for a major improvement, I was worned that if the sinus has to be moved I may want to avoid the procedure all together. this information came from my regular dentist. Is this information accurate? Are there major complications to look for when the sinus is moved?? Is it a high risk?
thanks!
John
Posted by: john | Jun 10, 2006 6:50:32 AM
Sunday 2 am.
I woke up with real throbbing pain this am 1:30 am. I had my dental implant on #9 front tooth on Wed. (4 days ago.) Could I have an infection? I had to take 2 darvocet tabs. I will call my oral surgeon this am when he is awake. Anyone have this experience. Thanks
Posted by: | Jul 16, 2006 2:12:37 AM
For any patient who has an infection after dental implant or bone graft surgery, I suggest that an oral surgeon be consulted. This is especially important if a non-oral surgeon placed your implant. An ENT doctor may provided the appropriate advice, but oral surgeons who usually manage major oral/facial infections and who have knowledge bridging medicine and dentistry are the most qualified experts.
Posted by: | Jul 16, 2006 8:01:20 PM
In April I had a dental implant placed in tooth #3. The original tooth cracked during a root canal. This tooth in general had given me alot of pain through the years. After the tooth was extracted all the pain was gone. My dentist and oral surgeon assurred me that an implant was the way to go with this tooth. The sinus had to be lifted to place this implant, the whole procedure took about 15 minutes. Since the procedure I am having terrible sinus pain, just like the old days when the original tooth was in place. The oral surgeon keeps telling me that the implant healed perfectly and is ready to crown it. I am ready to have it removed because of all the reverting pain down my neck and sinus pressure. My question is what complications are there in removing the implant and replacing it with a bridge? My surgeon is against it but I am not willing to live with the sinus/neck pain/headaches for the the rest of my life! Any information or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Posted by: Janet | Jul 28, 2006 11:22:30 AM
Janet, You need to find a new oral surgeon immediately who will help you with your concerns. The worst thing that could probably happen is bone loss, which could be built back up with a bone graft if needed.
Posted by: | Jul 28, 2006 1:36:55 PM
I've received 2 dental implants at the same time. The one on the right side of my jaw's fine and I've got the tooth on the implant already. The problem's the left side... although there's no pain and x-rays showed no sign of anything wrong, it's loose. When the surgeon placed the little screw into the implant, I heard a cracking of bone. Do you think I must just let it be and maybe it will heal on its own because there's no pain?
Posted by: Jean | Aug 6, 2006 10:43:22 AM
I had an implant placed nearly a month ago in lower R molar area. I had some pain and bruising and some numbness of lip. THis is seemingly improving, but all of a sudden I have discomfort around the implant. could it be the nerves are just starting to reactivte. I have no swelling.
Posted by: dane | Aug 24, 2006 8:01:21 AM
I have 2 natural, root canaled and crowned teeth on the lower jaw. They will both be extracted soon. It has been recommended, by my dentist, that i get implants for the soon-to-be-removed teeth. After many hours of research i have decided to go with a full lower plate. I realize it will have to be re-adhesived after each meal but it seems a lot less trouble, not to mention the pain, infection, etc. that could occur with implants. Sometimes the old ways are not so bad.
Posted by: | Nov 24, 2006 11:46:58 AM
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