Dental Implants

Dental implants serve as a replacement for the root of a tooth. They are not visible and secured in the jawbone once they are placed.

If you have teeth missing your crowns, bridges or denture can be fixed on dental implants.

Titanium structure of dental implant is lightweight, strong and not rejected by the body ( biocompatible ). Titanium and titanium alloys are the most widely used metals as in dental as well as in orthopedic joint replacements. The success rate of dental implants is the highest among any implanted surgical devices.

Titanium’s special characteristic is a merge to a bone. The process of osseointegration (“Osseo” – bone; “integration” – fusion with) is the basis of dental implant success.

Dental implants stabilize the jaw bone, prevent its loss, help maintain the jawbone’s shape and density. Dental implants also support the facial skeleton and, intermediately, gum tissues, cheeks, and lips. They help you look natural: eat, chew, smile, talk.

The Dental Implant Procedure

The dental implant procedure is a team effort between a dental surgeon with advanced training in implant surgery and a dental laboratory technician who plans and fabricates the tooth restorations. Implant placement requires a detailed assessment of your mouth and jaws: study models of your mouth and bite, and specialized radiographs (x-rays), which may include 3D scans(3D Panoramic X-ray). These records will show exactly the place where and how your implant should be placed. Placement of the dental implant is done during one appointment. Your dentist will advise you to take antibiotics and painkillers to avoid complications. It will take from one to six months for implant integration, depends on the capacity of your jaw bone to grow. When the healing process finishes you will be invited to complete the treatment, it takes usually 2-4 appointments depends on the complications of your case.

Who can consider dental implants

In general, if you have lost tooth/teeth you are a candidate for dental implants. It is important that you are in good health, however, as there are some conditions and diseases that can affect if dental implants can be a good option for you.

Uncontrolled diabetes
Cancer
Radiation to the jaws
Smoking
Alcoholism
Uncontrolled periodontal (gum) disease

These conditions may lead to dental implant failure.It is important to inform your dental surgeon about your medical history (past and present) and about all medications you are taking to avoid dental implant healing complications.

What is Sinus Augmentation (lift)

The crucial factor for the implant is a quality of the bone where it is to be installed. Poor bone quality and quantity and the closeness to the sinus makes the upper back jaw one of the most difficult areas to place dental implants. Sinus lift can help fix this problem. The procedure of bone grafting surgically raises the sinus floor to grow additional bone for a dental implant to be placed

It will take 4-12 months for the bone to develop before implants can be installed. In some rare cases, the implant can be placed at the same time the sinus is augmented.

What is Ridge Modification

The upper or lower jaw deformation can also be cause luck of bone for dental implant placement. To fix the deformities, the gum is be cut and lifted away from the ridge so that the defect in the bone will be exposed and then filled with a bone substitute or bone to improve the structure of the ridge.