Dental Implants
What is Dental Implant?
Dental implants can be called as artificial tooth root made by titanium. By using implants
- We can replace the missing teeth,
- We restore the chewing function,
- We restore lack of digestion and
- We restore aesthetic
as well. When we lost our teeth, jaw bones get thinner. Implants, as they copy the natural teeth, maintain the bone’s original dimension.
What are the components of Dental Implants?
Dental implants are composed of 3 components:
- First the ‘’implant post’’, the titanium part placed in the bone.
- Second an ‘’abutment’’, the part screwed in implant body, acting as an attachment combining the porcelain crown and the implant.
- Third, the crown, the artificial teeth that is out of the bone, attached to the implant
What are Purpose and advantages of Dental Implants?
Implants are made by titanium, which is one of the most biologically compatible material with human body.
When we lost our teeth, jaw bones get thinner. Implants, as they copy the natural teeth, maintain the bones’ dimension as original.
Before Dental Implants ‘’dental bridges’’ were used for replacing the missing teeth. But now with implants we do not have to drill the adjacent teeth. So we are keeping the neighbor teeth intact which means preserving the other teeth all healthy.
Removable denture may cause difficulty in pronunciation. Since they are not fixed to the mouth, they may get out your mouth accidentally which makes you unconfident especially in public. In addition to the discomfort of removable dentures, they make you feel older than you are.
For the patient who lost their teeth and should wear removable prosthesis, it means a great chance to use fixed prosthesis owing to implants, instead of removable ones.
Sometimes if the patient has severe bone loss or very thin jaws which does not allow to have implant and fixed implant supported prosthesis, we still have the ways to reinforce the removable prosthesis with implants and improve the quality of the patients’ lives.
Implants have well-build harmony with your natural teeth. Face symmetry and natural smile are restored without damaging the adjacent teeth.
When you leave empty spaces in the mouth, that part of the bone gets thinner and weaker. So in the meantime, you can see the asymmetry on your face at the mirror.
Placing implants can stimulate bone and prevent deterioration. Also our perfect nature tends to close spaces in the mouth. That means, when you do not replace missing teeth, next ones will be tilted trying to close the gap. And the upper or lover teeth matching the missing one will move towards the empty space. With all these process the balance of the mouth will be all disturbed causing more cavity risk.
How is Dental Implant Treatment Applied?
The first and the most important part of dental implant treatment is planning. With current technologies we use 3D imaging systems to evaluate the cases and plan the implant treatment precisely.
After planning, the implant surgery is applied by high experienced Oral and Maxillofacial surgeons. Generally, the Dental Implant surgeries are classified as simple operations. One single implant takes 15 minutes.
What are the Techniques for Dental Implants?
According to the planning of the case and patient, different techniques can be chosen.
The most common way is extracting the teeth and waiting for 1-1,5 months, the bone fills the gap of the missing teeth. Then, as a second step, we place the implant.
The other way which is getting more reliable day by day, is to place the implant immediately after extraction.
We place the implant body part; we should wait 1,5-2 months for implants in order to get to connect to the bone.
The permanent porcelain crowns or prosthesis that is recently planned will be produced after this waiting period.
Highlight of the Dental Implants: One Day Teeth
There are different types of techniques for the upper part (the part of the implant system visible in the mouth) of the Implant System.
Traditional way is waiting 1,5-2 months after the placement of the implant. At such cases we try to produce temporary restoration compensating the esthetic and function. But it is not always technically possible.
But modern dentistry comes with a new concept: ’One Visit Dentistry-All On Four’’ or ‘’One Day Teeth’’.
With this technique, we extract the teeth and do the implants on the same day with one surgery and place the temporary restorations immediately. ‘’In one visit’’ you are having all your teeth in your mouth. So you are not staying toothless even one day. Also it will become easy and comfortable while waiting 1,5-2 months for implants to be connected strongly to the bone.
At the final stage, the permanent prosthesis is done.
‘’One Visit Dentistry’’ concept also has the advantage of temporary restorations that we are using to shape the gum over the implant and the temporaries become a guide for the final restorations. So the final stage, the permanent restorations become more easy and comfortable for the patient and the doctor.
Your doctor and his/her dental team should be highly experienced about the ‘’One Visit Dentistry’’ treatment.
This kind of cases should be done with special work-flows. The team consist of the surgeon, prosthodontist and the technician that are well-prepared for each patient.
Especially totally edentulous patients who had lost all their teeth (or have to lose all the teeth) find this concept like miracle.
4-6 months’ recovery time, 2 step surgery, 3 step treatment, leaving the patient toothless can be turned into brand new era by providing white teeth while replacing all the missing teeth in one day.
With One Visit Dentistry Treatment, patients can smile and eat better than ever just in one day. Digestive and nutritional problems can be avoided by this method. So medical self -defense will not be negatively affected. Also patients will not have any social problems.
Why is Dental Implant needed?
There are many reasons for implant treatments. We can list the major needs as follows:
- Replacing the missing teeth without drilling no more teeth.
- You can eat and digest better so you will not have stomach or weight problems.
- You can smile better and more confident when all your missing teeth are replaced.
- You will avoid asymmetrical appearance on your face due to the bone loss.
- Even you have to use removable dentures, you can feel them fixed in your mouth with implants.
Who are the right candidates for Dental Implant?
The most important conditions for dental implants are general health and the strength of jaw bone. If you are having regular treatments or have special medical conditions, please inform your dentist.
We evaluate your jaw bone with x-rays and in recent years with 3D dental tomography.
If you have insufficient bone for implants, we still have techniques for reinforcing your bone to put a strong implant. We use artificial bone materials or your own bone within your jaws to have larger and thicker base for your implants.
Is the Dental Implant procedure painful?
Implant Surgeries have minimal complains after the operations. During the surgery we use local anesthesia or sometimes sedation for the comfort of patient. You will feel nothing during the procedure. After the operations you may have minor pain or swelling which can be solved with painkillers and antibiotics.
Does the body reject dental implant? How long dental implants last?
Dental Implants are not organ/tissue transplants. Dental implants have high success rates. A good planning and detailed and experienced surgical application is the first requirement for a long lasting implant. With a good oral health and regular professional controls, implants can stay life-long.
How do I care for my dental implants?
You should brush and floss like your natural teeth. Best way to care for your implants is having regular checkups and cleaning.
Can smokers have dental implants?
Smoking is a relative contraindication for dental Implants. Smoking delays the healing of tissues as for every surgery. It is recommended quit or reduce the frequency of smoking. Smoking may also affect the life of the dental implants.