Dental Implant

Dental Implant

An implant refers to an inert material placed into the body and living tissue. Implants are usually titanium-based screw- or root-shaped structures placed into a socket created in the jawbone to restore the function and aesthetics of one or more missing teeth. Dental implants are artificial roots made from biocompatible materials.

They are placed into the jawbone through a surgical procedure under local anesthesia. After the operation, the patient's condition is generally no different from that following a tooth extraction.

Unlike natural teeth, implants fuse directly with the jawbone. The jawbone needs to accept and grow around the implant. To avoid disrupting this process, prosthetic teeth are fitted onto the implants after 4-6 weeks, depending on the type of implant used. During this transition period, temporary dentures that play a secondary role in chewing function can be fitted for aesthetic purposes.

Implants can be placed right after extraction, as well as into sockets of teeth extracted earlier. Even if there is not enough bone at the site where the implant is to be placed, a suitable foundation can be created using various methods. Implant treatment can be applied to any individual over the age of 18 who takes care of their oral hygiene, does not smoke excessively, has no bone disease, and has no uncontrolled systemic disease.

Implants are not placed in children or individuals whose bone development is not yet complete. They also cannot be placed in pregnant women, or in patients with hypertension, diabetes, haemophilia, or those undergoing treatments such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy or long-term cortisone treatment. In clinical studies published to date, the success rate is 95-100%. With good oral hygiene, an implant can be used for a lifetime.

Situations in which an implant can be placed:

1) Single missing tooth with healthy neighbouring teeth

These are patients who would otherwise have to sacrifice at least two neighbouring teeth to restore a single tooth. Placing an implant instead saves the neighbouring teeth while also producing a more aesthetic and functional result.

2) Multiple missing teeth

These patients' complaints can include the unattractive appearance of dentures held in place by clasps, and the need to cut down healthy teeth to make a bridge — both of which an implant eliminates.

3) Insufficient retention of removable dentures

In these cases, two types of solution can be chosen: implant-supported removable or implant-supported fixed dentures.

a) Denture patients who have lost all their lower teeth:

Because these patients' dentures cannot achieve sufficient retention, they move around. This causes constant complaints of pain (from the denture pressing on the gums) and poor chewing. In such patients, implant treatment eliminates all the complaints above while also stopping bone resorption.

b) Denture patients who have lost all their upper teeth:

Although upper dentures are more stable than lower ones, the palate-covering design of the denture can reduce the sense of taste and cause nausea. Such complaints can be eliminated with the help of implants.

4) Replacing old dentures

Implants can be preferred instead of removable dentures or unhygienic bridge prostheses.

Advantages:

• Preserves the tissue around the missing tooth site as close to natural as possible;
• Restores full chewing function,
• Tooth loss or trauma leads to physiological bone resorption, which reduces the level and volume of the jawbone. This prevents a denture from functioning properly, inevitably causing chewing and speech problems. Because implants mimic natural roots, this kind of tissue loss is minimised.
• Being fixed, they are comfortable to use,
• They stabilise removable dentures
• Easy to apply
• Aesthetic
• High self-confidence from having healthy-looking teeth again.

Disadvantages:

• Oral hygiene must be given special attention
• More expensive than other treatments.