Health Risks Of Dental Implants

Gingival Recession

The placement of a dental implant can increase an individual's risk of gingival recession around the implant following its installation. Both technical and biological factors contribute to the occurrence of this complication. Physiologic reactions to the implant itself by the individual's soft gum tissue can cause an alteration in the gingival margin level or bone level that surrounds the dental implant. The labial plate inside of the bone starts a process of reabsorption of tissues following the extraction of a tooth. As a result of this mechanism, soft tissue recession of the gums surrounding the implant naturally occurs.

However, the recession of gingival tissue occurs more often as a result of technical factors at play. Many of these technical factors that lead to gum recession around the implant are highly preventable by the dentist facilitating the dental implant process. The diameter of the implant, the timing of the delivery of final restoration, excess cement, implant placement, biologic violation of width, and alcohol contamination are all factors that can contribute to post dental implant gingival recession.

Hyperplasia

Individuals who have a dental implant placed are taking the risk of developing gingival overgrowth (hyperplasia) following the installation around the peri-implant mucosa. This type of tissue overgrowth around the dental implant causes extreme difficulty with proper hygiene practices of the implant and surrounding teeth. Hyperplasia around an implant is thought to be the result of an abnormal and exaggerated allergic reaction to the materials of the implant. Usually, titanium and nickel mixtures used in the final prosthesis can cause these types of reactions. Soft tissue reactions and eczema are also associated with the use of beryllium and aluminum in dental implant materials that may result in gingival overgrowth.

The mechanism behind these allergic reactions is the result of the tissue rebuilding process that occurs when the body repairs its own damaged tissues. This process is similar to what occurs when scarring forms on internal organs or the skin after the body has repaired damaged tissues. In the majority of individuals who experience hyperplasia as a result of dental implant installation, the cause is not related to technical factors involving the implant placement technique.