Implantology
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root inserted into the jaw and can replace a single tooth or multiple missing teeth. On two implants, it is possible to use a superstructure with a bridge, in a way that is similar to the one concerning the two supporting teeth. A dental implant is placed in the jawbone in order to stabilize a complete or full denture. Stabilisation can be performed in different ways, using a different number of dental implants. Dental implants have been successfully inserted into the jawbone for over 25 years. Methods and materials are safe to use and the long-term success rate of dental implant treatment is more than 90%.
Successful implant insertion requires good general and oral health. A dental implant can only be inserted if a patient has no health issues or mouth inflammation problems. At Dental Medicine Practice, we perform all dental and periodontal-tissue treatments that are carried out prior to the insertion of dental implants.
Before the insertion of dental implants, an X-ray diagnosis is performed and includes measuring bone quantity and quality. It is also recommended to perform laboratory tests to determine cholesterol, vitamin D and blood sugar levels. Regular monitoring of laboratory parameters is important for the long-term success of implantology treatment.
If there is not enough bone for implants, some advanced implant dentistry or oral surgery techniques are now available to compensate for the loss of bone mass such as, for example, a “process of adding bone mass” using biomaterials.
Implant insertion is performed under local or conduction anaesthesia. There are different implant systems and for each of them, different instruments are used. The systems differ in shape, size and surface of implants, while also differing in the way the connection is established between an implant and its superstructure, and some other properties.
When inserting a dental implant, soft tissues are elevated in the area of the planned insertion site. After the dental implant is inserted, the gum is stitched up. After one or two weeks, the stitches are removed. It takes about three to four months for the implant to become fully integrated with the jaw bone (4 months for the upper jaw and 3 months for the lower jaw). After an implant has integrated with the bone, the treatment continues with a minor surgical procedure which opens the inner part of the implant lying under the gums. The surgical procedure is performed under local anaesthesia. A gingiva former is temporarily screwed into an implant and remains there for 14 days. The surgical part of a dental implant procedure is thus completed.
The dental implant placement process ends with prosthetic procedures. These include the planning and implementation of a prosthetic superstructure.
The prosthetic superstructure is usually screwed to the dental implant and is made of biocompatible materials such as titanium and zirconium oxide. The superstructure acts as a supporting tooth to prosthetic crowns made of various materials: metal-ceramic, zirconium-ceramic or prosthetic crowns made of zirconium dioxide. Prosthetic crowns are either cemented to the superstructures with special cements or attached to them with special screws (cement-retained and screw-retained superstructures).