Can Dental Implants Cause Sinus Problems?
For most people, dental implants are placed with no problems. A small percentage, however, do experience complications after getting these oral appliances, and one of those complications is sinus problems. Although rare, here are a couple of sinus-related issues that may occur after you get dental implants and what you can to prevent them.
Sinus Infections
If you lose teeth in the upper front area of the mouth near the sinuses, there is a chance dental implants could lead to the onset or increase of sinus infections. This is because when you lose a tooth, the body will reabsorb most of the bone in the jaw in that area, leaving only a thin layer behind. During placement or afterwards as the result of trauma, the titanium post may pierce through this thin layer and enter the sinus cavity. This can allow the free flow of bacteria between the mouth and nose, leading to an infection in the sinuses and the implant.
Migrating Implant
Another rare but serious complication that can occur is a migrating implant. In this situation, the implant breaks free of the jaw and migrates into the sinus cavity. This generally leads to, facial pain, headaches and an increase in sinus infections.
Several things can contribute to this problem, including a thin bone barrier, improper positioning of the implant, and erosion of gum tissues. Failure to complete the implant process increases the chances of this complication occurring. For instance, an Italian woman had an implant removed from her sinus cavity that had migrated all the way up to her left eye. It was revealed that she'd had the post placed two years previously, but there was no crown attached. Doctors speculated the post failed to integrate fully with the jaw, broke away, and subsequently went on a journey through the sinuses.
Avoiding These Rare Complications
Because of the proximity to the sinuses, it's critical to ensure the front upper jaw bone is healthy and fully capable of supporting dental implants. If you've been missing teeth in that area for several years, it's highly likely the bone has eroded considerably. Therefore, you'll want to talk to your dentist about doing bone grafts or using artificial materials to stimulate bone growth in the socket before placing the implant post.
Changing your diet to include teeth-friendly foods such as milk and cheese, stopping smoking, treating gum disease, and thoroughly cleaning teeth and gums daily to eliminate bacteria can also go a long way towards minimizing erosion and supporting bone growth.
For more information about these and other possible complications related to dental implants, look into the websites of a dentist in your area, such as http://adazzlingsmile.com/.