Should I be afraid to get an implant?

[Dentist90]

Should I be worried to get an implant? Or I shouldn’t overthinking it too much since a lot of people have one? Somehow I’m anxious about it like it will fail etc but when I visit dentist related places it seems a lot of people have it? Should I stop worrying about it and just go with the surgery? Any dentists that can share their experience with me?

 

[Dr M]

A dental implant procedure is usually relatively painless. It is the best way we have to currently replace a missing tooth. If you are anxious, discuss your fears with your dentist/surgeon. Sometimes if they explain the procedure step by step, and you know what to expect, it is not so scary.
Technology has improved a lot, since the start of the implant placing process. There is no need to be scared anymore.

 

[Dentist90]

I mean more about the screw in general.

Someone said the implant screw can last for over 20 years. After that they think you can’t a new one because you would no longer to have the bone density to support the screw

Also, if the screw is placed in the jaw and there is only the crown left… is there any harm when it’s pushed against the gum like in the picture with the finger emoji? Because a real tooth is one whole thing and the crown isn’t pushed against the gum. I hope what I said is clear because English isn’t my first language.

 

[Dentist90]

Does the fake crown has to be removed ocassionally to clean the gum?

 

[Dentist90]

And I’m a pretty healthy person. I don’t smoke, have a pretty healthy diet… so will the surgery fail or I should think too much?

 

[Dr M]

I think you are over-complicating the scenario. Implants can last you 20 years or more. This DOES NOT mean that you can't get another implant at a later stage. Lots of times, bone augmentation ( adding bone ) is done in areas where the bone is insufficient, in order to support an implant.
The crown does not exert too much pressure on the gum tissue. The crown is designed in such a way that it does not limit the blood supply to the surrounding tissues, due to excessive pressure.

 

[Dentist90]

Hi,

My apologies for the late response. I just wanted to confirm a few things. If an implant were ever to fail or break, it would be possible to replace it, correct? I may be overthinking this, but I want to be sure.

In general, getting an implant is safe as long as I maintain good oral hygiene, and there shouldn’t be major issues? I’m also a bit concerned about the implant screw failing after surgery—do you think this is something I should worry about, or am I overthinking again? One dentist mentioned that in the past decade only three patients needed to redo their implant, and I also know two dentists who have implants themselves. I know several people at work who have implants, including some who smoke, and none of them have had any issues.

My main concern overall is the implant failing and being left with a hole in my jaw where there is no tooth, and whether I should worry about jawbone shrinkage.

 

[MattKW]

Any medical or dental procedure has failure rates. If the patient is selected carefully then the success rates are very high (~97%). Smoking is a big risk and no-one I knows places implants in smokers. You also need to have very good hygiene habits, and any periodontal disease has to be fully and regularly controlled. Finally, ask if your implant dentist uses one of the big 5 brands (Straumann, Nobel Biocare, Zimmer Biomet, and Dentsply Sirona, often alongside BioHorizons or Osstem Implant) so that should you ever need to replace the crown then you will easily find a dentist using one of these brands. Straumann is the largest with ~35% world domination and have an excellent product although a bit more expensive; it's the one I prefer. Also ask your dentist for all the barcodes of the various components for checking and future reference. Some unscrupulous labs use cheaper copied parts.
My daughter had implants placed 20 years ago and still going well, although the crowns might need replacing in the future as her natural teeth darken, but that's easily done.

 

[Dentist90]

Thanks for your advice! Being a dentist and having your own daughter with implants shows once again how common they actually are. Having them for 20 years is a long time!

 

[fatimacabell]

Should I be worried to get an implant? Or I shouldn’t overthinking it too much since a lot of people have one? Somehow I’m anxious about it like it will fail etc but when I visit dentist related places it seems a lot of people have it? Should I stop worrying about it and just go with the surgery? Any dentists that can share their experience with me?

I went through the same spiral of overthinking, but seeing how common they are actually helped calm my nerves once I realized it's one of the most successful procedures in modern dentistry. The surgery itself was surprisingly quick, and as long as you follow the aftercare instructions, that "fear of failure" usually fades away once you realize the new tooth feels just as solid as the ones you were born with.