Dental Implants Treatments

The loss of a tooth can be a distressing experience. Apart from leaving an unseemly gap in your smile, it can cause tooth drifting as well as chewing and speech problems. Dental implants provide a long-term solution to this serious dental condition and are indistinguishable from your natural teeth.

The dental implant is a piece of biocompatible metal (usually titanium) which is surgically placed into the jawbone – with the role to substitute the root of a natural tooth. It serves as a post upon which a dental crown is placed to fully restore the aesthetics and function of the missing tooth (or teeth). Our dentists are experienced in implantology. They are trained and certified by the most recognized dental implant production houses such as Straumann, Nobel Biocare, and MANI SCHÜTZ Dental.

It takes approximately 3 months for a dental implant to integrate with the jawbone. Then the metal cylinder (abutment) is attached to the implant and serves as a base for a dental crown, bridge or denture.

Our patients obtain a 10 years guarantee on placed implants as well as an implant passport which contains all necessary information to facilitate future follow-ups by any dental specialist across the globe.

Implants are a long-term solution but require adequate dental hygiene. Even though dental implants are immune to decay, the periodontal tissues have to be properly cleaned to prevent infection of the gum – which could lead to loosening of the implant.

Prior to the dental implantation procedure, it is necessary to evaluate the volume of the jawbone in order to ascertain if it can support the implant. The jawbone is easy to evaluate by examination of the patient’s panoramic X-ray or even better, 3-D X-ray.

During the X-ray examination, the dental specialist is going to decide the most suitable position for implant placement, as well as its dimensions. In some cases, the volume of the jawbone isn’t sufficient to support a dental implant, requiring a bone graft treatment. The dental implant placement is performed under local anesthesia and takes about an hour. The implant is surgically placed under the gum tissue. It requires 3 to 6 months to fully integrate with the jawbone. During the waiting period, the patient will get the provisional dentures if necessary. Once the implant is securely integrated into the jaw, the abutment is screwed in the implant and a custom-made dental crown is created and fitted onto it.

Sometimes, it is possible to load the implant immediately – meaning that the abutment is attached immediately after the implant placement, the crowns are fixed and the gum heals at the same time as a bone build up.

It is important to note that in some cases, the general health of patient doesn’t allow for dental implant placement to be performed.

Before the procedure can be performed, a detailed medical history must be taken to reveal any potential contraindication related to general health issues.

• Acute mental disorders
• Active cancer (radiotherapy, chemotherapy)
• Hematological diseases
• Systemic diseases
• Osteoporosis
• Alcoholism
• Unstable diabetes

• Patient’s age – patients under 16 years old cannot be treated due to underdeveloped bone structures
• Jawbone atrophy – a prior bone reconstruction procedure is required
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Rheumatic diseases
• Kidney diseases
• Liver diseases
• Endocrine diseases
• Pregnancy
• Unstable diabetes
• Poor oral hygiene
• Gum and periodontal diseases – periodontal treatment is required
• Malocclusion – orthodontic treatment is required
• Smoking – reducing the intake (or quitting) tobacco is required

Single tooth gap happens when a single tooth is removed from the jaw. This can happen as a result of trauma, infection, failed root canal treatment – or the tooth might be missing from birth(hypodontia).

Solution

The best solution is to place singled dental implant to support a dental crown. It achieves the natural aesthetic and function of the missing tooth without damaging the surrounding teeth. The continued use (loading) of the jaw prevents resorption and shrinkage of the jaw bone as well as prevents the drifting of surrounding teeth. 98% long-term success rate with conventional dental hygiene and care.

Alternatives

Leaving a gap

A missing tooth is devastating to one’s smile. Alongside the aesthetic stigma, the gap may impair the normal eating and speech, as well as lead to a shrinkage of ‘unused’ jawbone and gum. There’s a high probability of dental misalignment due to drifting of the surrounding teeth.

Conventional bridge

Conventional bridge requires for the teeth surrounding the edentulous space to be reduced in volume to support it, thus compromising their long-term health. The lack of load on the jawbone might lead to shrinkage of the unused jawbone while providing extra stress to the ‘carrier’ teeth during mastication.

When there’s a gap of more than one tooth, it can significantly impair speech and eating functions, as well as lead to changes in the facial structure due to the shrinking jawbone. This can cause severe distress, lack of confidence and negatively impact your quality of life.

Solution

Multiple teeth implants are more complicated, but we’re more than prepared to tackle the challenge! Usually, it is a two-stage process – initially, the implant is installed and covered by gum. The abutment is attached at a later date. A temporary tooth is put in place, followed by a 3-6 month healing period, before the final installation of dental crown takes place.

Dental Implants are the best solution in cases with multiple missing teeth, particularly in the back of the jaw, where the dental implants would provide stability restore the natural eating function.

Alternatives

Large conventional bridge

A large (multiple crowns) conventional bridge puts even more stress on the carrier teeth, reducing their lifespan. It does not prevent jawbone reduction and changes in the facial structure. If the gap is in the back of the jaw, a bridge might not be an option. Additionally, large conventional bridges have to be replaced over time.

Partial denture

Partial dentures can be loose and uncomfortable to use and there’s a high possibility of trapping food remains beneath while eating. As the pressure is transferred to the soft tissue, as with dental bridges, dentures do not prevent jawbone reduction and shrinkage. Moreover, the clips which secure the dentures might damage the surrounding teeth.