DENTAL IMPLANTS

What are dental implants? What is involved in getting a dental implant?

Implant are usually titanium replacement for the missing tooth roots. Although, implants are conceived as the porcelain or zirconium crowns placed on the tooth roots, they are actually root replacements prepared for healthy tooth. Implants provides strong foundation for completing the missing tooth.

Titanium is preferred material for implants. If not used properly or … may cause bone loss.

Implant treatment is the complete process of functional and esthetical replacement of lost teeth. In implant treatment, first a strong foundation is created by implanting material compatible in the bone. After the jawbone heals and grows around the implanted metal post, a small connector called abutment is attached to the post. After your dentist take impressions of your teeth, a new tooth, bridge or dentures is created in the labs. Finally, new tooth or teeth is attached securely to this post. In case, there is only one tooth is lost, implants provide an alternative solution to bridges, which requires cutting the one or two neighboring teeth.

With the introduction of “Flapless Surgery” techniques, the healing period is shortened, since it involves minimal invasive surgery.

What is the bone density?

Bone health and the bone density is very important factor in implant treatment. If the patient’s bone structure is not strong enough to hold the implant additional treatment, such as adding bone or grefting, may be required prior to the implant treatment.

Patients who have diabetes or heart disease will be evaluated individual basis and will be required to get approval from their doctors.

Checklist Prior to Treatment

Dentist checks the patients oral health and bone structure. Quality of the soft and hard tissue in the mouth is as important as the quantity. Jawbone is required to be of a certain width and depth.

• Patients should not have bone diseases
• Patients should not have uncontrolled diabetes and heart problems
• Infections in the roots or gums should be treated first
• Other infectious diseases should be treated first

Implant Treatment Procedures

Implant treatment has two major stages:

1. Surgery
2. Dental work

For a single tooth, surgery operation for the implant takes about 10-30 minutes. At this stage a temporary crown is placed on the implant. After a successful surgical operation, there is a waiting period of 2-4 months for the jawbone to heal and accept the implant. Once the dentist approves the implant is securely bonded in the bone structure, temporary crown is replaced with replacement tooth and the treatment is completed.

Implant Timeline

Implant is placed on the jawbone with the help of local anesthesia. During the operation patient does not feel pain, however, as the effects of anesthesia decreases, patient will suffer low pain for a day or two. Dentist will prescribe pain killers to relieve this pain.

After the implant insertion operation, depending on the patients oral health and bone structure there will be waiting period of 2 to 4 months. Dentist decides if there is a need for temporary tooth in this waiting period. Patients are expected to pay special attention to their dental care during this period.

After the healing and bonding of the implant is completed, crown preparation stage, which is about 2 weeks, starts. In this two weeks, dentist takes the 3D model of the mouth, and prepares the tooth and finally places the tooth in place.

Implant Lifetime

Implant dental treatment, which can be used for many years in a healthy manner, is directly proportional to the correct planning at the beginning of the application. Basically, when the patient has an artificial tooth tissue, the application can be used for a lifetime. The lifetime of implants is shortened naturally in people who have gingival disease or who do not have adequate care for their oral care.

How to Take Care of Implants

Dental care and hygiene is very important after the implant treatment. Implants are also subjected to all of the diseases threatening the healthy teeth. If you omit consistent oral hygiene, implants also have the risk of developing gum problems and bleeding. If such problems are not treated immediately, just like in a healthy natural teeth, you might end up losing your implant as well as your dental health.

After the treatment, your dentist will inform you about the proper cleaning techniques and materials.

During the treatment process, it is strongly recommended to stay away from healing smoking. Acidic drinks may also affect the lifetime of your implants negatively.

First 48 hours after the implant treatment is very important. You should avoid extreme pressure on the implants. Also in the first 24 hours, it is recommended to avoid gargle

Patients should brush their implants with soft and steady movements during this initial days. Should they have swollen gums after the process, patients may use ice compression to ease the pain.

Does implants cause bad breath?

None of the materials used during the treatment process cause bad smell. Any the bad mouth smell developed after the implant treatment should be investigated in detail by your dentist.

All on Four Technique

For patients with no teeth, we place 4 implants on the jaw and fix the dentures on these implants. This technique is called “All on Four”