Root formed implants surgically placed in the bone are predictably long lasting and are preferable to bridges for tooth replacement. Bridges necessitate grinding down adjacent teeth for replacement of a tooth and require bridge cleaners for flossing underneath the bridged false tooth.

Implants drilled too deep can penetrate the underlying main sensory jaw nerve and cause permanent lip and chin numbness and/or pain. 3D xrays show the exact position of the jaw nerve and guide the surgeon preoperatively where to place the implant drill to avoid injury to the sensory jaw nerve. If severe pain and/or numbness persists 6 hours after implant placement surgery, the implant should be removed. A three dimensional cone beam (CBCT) xray can show if the jaw nerve was penetrated with the implant drill. A two millimeter safety zone between the implant drill depth and underlying jaw nerve has been recommended for over a quarter of a century. Nevertheless some implantologists ignore or disregard this precaution and endanger patients by causing permanent jaw nerve injuries of numbness, burning pain and/or by invading the 2mm danger zone and "harpoons" the inferior alveolar nerve with the implant drill and/or implant. See video.

For implants, consult a periodontist in your area. For a free oral health brochure samples including one titled "Dental Implants: Teeth That Look and Feel Just Like Your Own" are available by calling 800-FLOSSEM or at the American Academy of Periodontology's web site.

Prevention of Iatrogenic Inferior Alveolar Nerve Injuries in Relation to Dental Procedures