Dental Implants and Mouth Ulcers: Is There a Link?

Dental implants require surgery, but the outcome of this surgery can be safely predicted. Complications can't be entirely ruled out, but the risk is minimal, with postoperative infections being amongst the most common. But in the days after your implant surgery, you might experience a minor obstacle in your recovery, ulcers.

Mouth Ulcers

Have you ever had a mouth ulcer? These small lesions can be inconvenient, and even painful, but they rarely persist, and only require medical intervention if they're especially problematic. So what's the link between a dental implant and a mouth ulcer?

A Possible Link

A study has suggested a link between the installation of a dental implant and the development of a mouth ulcer. The precise cause has not been solved yet, although many subjects reported the development of an ulcer within days after receiving a dental implant. It's not a particularly serious complication, nor is it likely to jeopardize the success of the implant.

Difficult to Identify

It can in fact be difficult to positively identify a mouth ulcer while you're recuperating after implant surgery. The implant site will be inflamed and uncomfortable, and the swelling can make it difficult to isolate an ulcer from the surrounding inflamed tissue. The development of an ulcer can increase your discomfort during recovery, but this can be managed with the pain medication recommended by your dentist or oral surgeon.  

Short-Term Management

Fortunately, short-term management for a mouth ulcer is similar to what is required in the days after dental implant surgery. Your diet will be restricted, and you will be advised to avoid foods that are especially acidic or spicy. These can aggravate the site of the implant, and they can also aggravate a mouth ulcer. 

Topical Treatments

If the ulcer continues to persist, it may be necessary to receive topical treatment, but this might need to wait until you've partially recovered. It's unwise to apply an antiseptic treatment to broken, inflamed tissues (such as the site of the implant). Don't take matters into your own hands and attempt to treat the ulcer yourself. If you suspect that you have developed an ulcer after receiving a dental implant, inform your dentist right away and allow them to determine the best treatment.

Receiving a dental implant certainly doesn't mean that you will develop an ulcer. Even if this was to happen, the situation should be monitored, but it's not an especially serious complication. Keep this in mind when you are considering getting dental implants.

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