Dental implants are the most modern and effective way to restore missing teeth. The feature that makes them stand out from all the other dental prosthetic options available is that they don’t just fill the gap, they work just like natural teeth.
It is a screw-like component made of titanium, a completely biocompatible material, which essentially works like an artificial root.
This root, over time, integrates into the bone, and the prosthetic restoration is placed on top of it, either a crown, if only one tooth is missing, or a bridge, if more are missing. Another advantage of implants is that their placement does not affect the neighboring teeth, which in the case of placing a crown, must be ground, even if they are healthy.
The diagnostic process includes:
- Obtain a detailed medical and dental history.
- Clinical evaluation of the area where the implants are to be placed.
- Special x-ray examination, which depicts the existing bone in three dimensions.
By evaluating the data from the diagnostic procedure and based on the prosthetic restoration that has been chosen, the planning of the placement of the implants follows, where they will be determined:
- The type and dimensions of the implants to be placed.
- The exact point, as well as the direction of their placement.
- The special surgical interventions that may be needed.
It is pointed out that in patients suffering from periodontitis, its treatment first, is a condition to proceed with the placement of implants.
The placement of the implants is done under sterile conditions, under local anesthesia, without much discomfort for the patient.
The implants are placed in the bone and remain covered by the gums or with a small part of them protruding from them for a period of usually 2-4 months, until their integration into the bone is complete.
It is then possible to fabricate the final prosthetic restoration that will rest on the implant.
Implants work in an environment colonized by microbes and, like teeth, need daily care and hygiene.
Their regular monitoring and maintenance by a qualified Periodontist is also necessary to keep them in a healthy state. The review takes place every 3-6 months, depending on the case. Implants are re-evaluated and therapeutic interventions are performed where necessary.
Especially patients suffering from periodontitis must be quite careful with their maintenance, as otherwise the risk of peri-implantitis is quite increased.
The implant needs sufficient bone both to stabilize and integrate, and to be placed in the ideal position to support after prosthetic restoration.
However, in the areas we wish to place implants, the bone has often been largely lost.
In our clinic, with special surgical interventions of Guided Bone Regeneration either before or together with the placement of the implants, using biomaterials such as bone grafts and membranes, we are able to promote the formation of new bone in the area, achieving the desired Results.
In cases of tooth loss and bone deficits in the posterior region of the upper jaw, the situation can be complicated by the sinuses. The sinuses are air-filled cavities in the upper jaw that tend to expand when teeth are absent, minimizing the remaining bone.
With special surgical interventions to lift the sinuses (Guided Bone Regeneration) either before or together with the placement of the implants, utilizing biomaterials such as bone grafts and membranes, we can restore the sinuses to their original position and promote the formation of new bone, allowing the placement of implants in the area.
Peri-implant soft tissues (the gingival equivalent of implants) play an important role in the long-term maintenance of implant health and aesthetic outcome.
In cases where it is deemed necessary, with plastic microsurgery interventions we can improve the quantity, quality and outline of these tissues, achieving naturalness in the image and stability around the implant.
There are many reasons why implants are advantageous. One of them is their ability to replace a single tooth without having to intervene on adjacent teeth. Another important reason is that they have the ability to replace all the teeth in the mouth (upper and lower jaw) providing excellent stability and strength in cutting food, which is not possible with the classic masticator.
Among other things, the atrophy of the bone itself is prevented, because during chewing they provide the stimulus that the bone needs for its continuous regeneration. Another very important thing is the advantages that implants have over the bridge which necessarily requires the sacrifice of healthy tooth substance when grinding the teeth intended for supports. But the main reason is that the person feels the implants like their natural teeth with all the associated advantages.
Whether someone can put implants can only be judged by specialized dentists, after an X-ray check and evaluation of the condition of the jaw for such an operation. Of course, there are also special categories of people, such as alcohol addicts, heavy smokers and those with chronic diseases, in whom the success rate of implants may be lower than expected.
In the event that the required bone is not present, the maxillofacial surgeon can proceed with the use of a graft, in order to restore the deficit before or even at the same time as the placement of the implant.
Scientific clinical research for over 20 years has proven that it is one of the most reliable therapeutic procedures in dentistry. Under controlled conditions, success rates are 99% for the lower jaw and 97% for the upper.
Implants are known to be made of titanium alloys, which are biocompatible and fully accepted by the human body. The installation process is relatively simple. The prosthodontist in collaboration with the maxillofacial surgeon, after determining the places where the implants will be placed, proceed with the surgery, which lasts from a quarter of an hour for one tooth to two hours for the entire jaw. As we said above, there is no pain either during placement or during healing, during which the patient receives common painkillers.
After the first week, the stitches are removed, while the patient can return to his duties from the very second day. If the implants are loaded immediately, the restoration is placed in the mouth from the very first day or within the first seven days after the operation. However, in the most classic case (the so-called immediate loading of implants cannot be applied in every case) the final restoration is placed in the mouth one and a half to four months later.
After the final prosthetic restoration, the patient is monitored in preventive check-ups by the attending physician for the long-term maintenance of the result. Excellent oral hygiene is a prerequisite for long-term results.
Throughout the completion of the implants, the patient has the possibility of having temporary teeth for as long as he waits until the end of the work.
They will look like you have your natural teeth.
No. Patients report that the discomfort is minimal either during or after the operation. Most patients feel much less discomfort than they expected. The majority of patients are comfortable with just pain medication.
Studies have shown that chewing ability is greatly improved with the help of implants. After a very short adaptation period, the ability to chew is comparable to that of natural teeth.
They need the same maintenance as our natural teeth, and the frequency of dental visits is determined by the attending physician, for the standard cleaning, where the implants are actually checked and maintained. However, daily maintenance and cleaning by the person himself is also required.
The cases of application of implants:
- Replacement of missing tooth.
- Replacement of many missing teeth.
- Total tooth restoration of the jaw.
- Replacement of artificial dentures
Most adults, regardless of age, can have implants. The main limiting factor is the amount of bone, if it has been resorbed, but even in this case your surgeon can suggest the appropriate solution. Also, if you have various medical problems discuss them with your surgeon.
The cost will be determined by the extent of diagnostic procedures that will be needed (eg simple X-ray or something more complex?), the number of implants that will be needed for your needs, the level of difficulty, any ancillary procedures to place them the implants and finally the type of crown, bridge or denture that best meets your requirements.
But certainly the cost is very small if you consider the result of the restoration.
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