DENTAL IMPLANTS

WHAT ARE DENTAL IMPLANTS?

Dental implants are the future of dentistry. They are titanium screws in many different shapes and sizes.  We place these screws into the jaw bone in places where physical teeth are missing, so in other words implants are used to replace the roots of missing teeth.

After the placement into the bone a biological procedure starts. We call it Osseo integration. During this procedure which lasts 3 to 4 months for the lower jaw and 4 to 6 months for the upper jaw the bone grows directly onto the surface of the implant and creates a lasting biological bond between them. After the Osseo integration we can load the implants with crowns, bridges or dentures. That means it is necessary to visit us twice. According to the newest procedures we also have the choice of immediate loading. In this case we load the implants as soon as possible after the surgery (within 15 days). It is important for you to know that immediate loading can not be performed in all cases. In our clinic we use 2 different systems of implants: Xive system and Southern system.

WHO IS CANDIDATE FOR DENTAL IMPLANTS?

The majority of Patients can be candidates for dental implants. Although, in any case your mouth must be examined properly and dental and medical history must be taken thoroughly. Finally it is necessary for us to have x-rays of your jaw. All these are parts of routine for us.

SURGICAL PROCEDURE

The surgical procedure generally can be performed under local anesthesia. It takes no more than 30 minutes to place a single implant. Most of our Patients say’s that the procedure is “easy” and “painless”. In case of choosing immediate loading the surgical phase is completed by placing the implant. Otherwise we have to uncover the implants 4 to 6 months later. Finally, sometimes we have the possibility to extract a tooth and place an implant to its position at the same time, minimizing the number of the surgeries.

PROSTHETIC PROCEDURE

The prosthetic procedure starts by uncovering the implants. Then we attach small posts in order to help gums to take the final shape and we take the impression. Depending on what kind of prosthesis we have selected (fixed or removable) and the number of the implants we need between 3 to 12 days to complete the process. In case of choosing immediate loading the prosthetic procedure takes place immediately after the surgery (same appointment).

ADVANTAGES

Implants have a lot of advantages! Patients can have fixed bridges instead of removable dentures in cases were back teeth are missing. There is also no longer necessary to sacrifice the structure (enamel) of surrounding good teeth to bridge a space. Finally implants help to prevent bone deterioration that occurs after the teeth extraction. Most of our patient’s say’s implants feel and function like natural teeth. It is time to smile with confidence…!!