Infection of Mini-Dental Implants


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Our mouths are rich in bacteria which are virtually omnipresent. These bacteria are rarely a concern until they are given a chance to grow and flourish through poor oral care and diet. One of the consequences of unchecked bacterial action in an unhealthy mouth can be tooth loss, and one of the solutions to tooth loss is the use of mini-dental implants.

Once successfully in place, mini-implants can make dentures feel more comfortable, and allow for more natural and extensive usage of these natural teeth. For many people who have lost teeth through oral disease or some other means, recurring infection can be a serious and understandable concern. In this article we look at what risks of infection can be associated with mini-dental implants, and whether or not these extremely useful tools can be vulnerable to the infections which threaten the mouth.


Risks of infection associated with mini-dental implants

Each mini-dental implant is made out of titanium or a titanium alloy, and as a metal the implant itself is not at any risk of infection. However the tissues around an implant, particularly in the period during and after the surgical placement of these dental tools, can be vulnerable to infection without the proper care.

As with any surgical procedure, there is some damage to the tissues of the mouth, albeit considerably less than that incurred by the surgery used to place full sized dental implants. This kind of damage leaves said tissues vulnerable to infection, which is why a careful surgery and even more careful post-surgical care are so important.

During this time each site of implantation is vulnerable to an infectious condition called peri-implantitis. This is most often associated with poor oral hygiene, whether after the surgery or as a patient history. Poor hygiene results in an environment in which bacteria can flourish, causing infectious conditions like peri-implantitis.

This condition is typified by inflammation around the site of implantation, where the tissue becomes red and swollen. If the condition is allowed to progress, it can result in a retraction of bone and gum tissue from the implant itself, and is a sign of the procedure’s failure.

A healthy fusion between the jawbone and mini-implants is the hallmark of a successful treatment, and peri-implantitis results in a situation where rather than close contact between bone and implant, there is a retraction of the bone from the titanium insertion, meaning that there can’t be a successful integration between the two.

Even after the surgery it is important that you maintain good oral hygiene in the area around the implant, thereby preserving the long term health and integrity of the site. If oral disease does occur after an implant has successfully fused with the bone, it can still have severe effects on the health of the mouth as a whole.

What can I do to prevent infection associated with mini-dental implants?

Infections like peri-implantitis are extremely preventable, and your dentist will undoubtedly take you through many different instructions on how to keep your mouth as healthy as possible. This dramatically reduces the risk of infection, particularly where a procedure as minimally invasive as the one used to place mini-implants is involved.

Good oral hygiene and avoiding sugary foods and smoking are simple but extremely effective steps that can keep your mouth healthy, improving the longevity and durability of a set of mini-dental implants.

The benefits mini-dental implants can offer dentures users are significant, and they can vastly improve quality of life if looked after. Considering the costs involved in the procedure if nothing else, it is definitely a good idea to follow your dentist’s instructions and maintain a clean, healthy mouth.

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