Etiology and Clinical Management of Surgical Complications related to Dental Implant Procedures

Course goals:

Problems with implants have been rising as more clinicians who do not have advanced training and skills are involved in implant placement and implant-related restorations. Some complications may be relatively minor and easy to correct, while others will be major and result in the loss of the implant, permanent damage of adjacent anatomical structures, or can even be life-threatening. This lecture is based on numerous clinical examples and cases as a well as a literature review and gives an overview about implant failures, typical intra- and postoperative complications with even severe adverse outcomes causing medical emergencies related to implant and bone graft procedures with potentially life-threatening complication that even required intubation, emergency tracheostomy or intensive care hospitalization.

Learning Objectives:

1. Assess, anticipate and manage common complications associated with implant procedures
2. Reinforce awareness that even simple implant procedures are invasive in nature and can trigger extremely serious and life-threatening complications
3. Understand that oral surgeons and dentists, no matter how skilled and experienced in implant surgery, must be at all times aware of even rare, unexpected and severe complications, in order to promptly plan an adequate emergency intervention.