All about dental implantation
An implant is a specially made artificial tooth root. It replaces a previously extracted or lost natural root, and the implant allows the dentist to fit a new crown for the patient in its place.
Dental implantation: indications
Dental implants are recommended by dentists for patients who want to replace missing teeth in a way that provides comfort when eating and communicating, and improves the aesthetics of the smile, which affects self-confidence and self-esteem. It is possible to have dental implants that are reasonably priced, and it will be the right decision for your health. Choose dental implants from dentists when there is a need. These are:
To replace more of the patient's missing teeth, including toothlessness;
- Filling gaps where the patient lacks a rudiment or rudiments of permanent teeth;
- Improving the quality of life of patients with removable dentures;
- Implantation to replace missing teeth in patients;
- cannot tolerate removable dentures by the patient;
Implants can therefore help patients with many oral problems.
Dental implantation: contraindications
Although dental implantation itself is not difficult, not everyone can benefit from it. Here are the situations in which a dental implant should be avoided:
- Cancer around the implantation site;
- Mental disorders in the patient;
- Senile dementia;
- Serious general illness in the patient;
- irradiation of the implantation site, treatment with oral bisphosphonates for at least 3 years;
In all cases, a dentist should be consulted before dental implantation.
What is the implantation procedure?
The process of implantation by a dentist into the cavity takes place in several steps, and the procedure itself is painless thanks to local anaesthesia. The dentist cuts the gum, drills a small hole in the bone, fixes the implants and closes the operative field. Within a few months of implantation, the tooth replacement will fuse with the part of bone. Thanks to the biocompatibility of titanium implants, the body quickly recognises them as an integral part of the body. In this way, the dental implant replaces the roots of the teeth.
The next step in implantation is for the dentist to heal and shape the patient's gums to resemble the natural tissue around the natural tooth. When this process is complete, crowns, bridges or removable dentures are placed on the implants. A patient can always get a dental implant, the price of which will be quoted by the dentist.
What does an implant look like?
An implant can simply be described as a metal screw that acts like the root of a tooth once it is placed in the bone tissue. There are different kinds of implants. They can be shaped like a screw, a cylinder or a spiral. The diameter of the implant usually varies from 2 to 6 mm in width. It is worth noting that the price of dental implants depends on the type of tooth replacement itself. The first part, the implant screw, is an element that is screwed directly into the bone of the jaw or lower jaw. It is the main support of the implant on which the other components are placed. The second part is called the connector - it can be considered as the framework of the implant to which the patient's prosthetic crown, the final component, is attached. It is important to remember that the price of dental implants may vary depending on the prestige of the clinic and additional services. The material can be different.
To help the patient visualise the structure of the implant, the dentist often uses the analogy of a picture hanging on the wall before implantation: a dental implant is the equivalent of a peg that we first drive into the wall. Once we have the appropriate extension to its internal part, we screw in the connector, which can be considered the "nail on which the picture will hang". The image, in turn, is the prosthetic reconstruction, i.e. the most important part for the patient, as it is directly visible in the patient's mouth and is responsible for the aesthetics of the smile. Patients can also find out how much a tooth implant and treatment will cost during the consultation with the dentist.
How is the implantation procedure carried out?
Depending on the type of implants we choose, there are 3 main stages of dental implantation treatment for single-phase or 4 for two-stage replacements.
The cost of full dental implantation may vary depending on the list of services ordered.
- Stage I: Consultation
This is the first and most important step in the dental implantation process. During the consultation, the dentist will tell you how much a dental implant will cost. During the consultation, the dentist will conduct a detailed interview to determine whether there are any contraindications to the placement of dental implants. It is important to be honest with your dentist, especially when answering questions about your hygiene habits and smoking. These two components have a huge impact on the integration of the implants and the healing process, so no information should be withheld from the dentist. The dentist should also check the condition of the bones in the mouth before placing the implants, if this has not already been done. It is important to remember that dental implants cannot be placed without sufficient bone material in the jaw or mandible. During such a visit, the patient will also have the opportunity to ask the dentist any questions they may have about the implantation procedure, preparation, recovery time and expected costs. Dental implantation prices always depend on the clinic and additional services. In general, however, prices for dental implantation should be listed on the clinic's website. You should also find out about the material of the prosthesis.
- Stage II: The implant placement procedure
The dental implant procedure begins with the administration of an anaesthetic to eliminate any pain the patient may feel. The dentist then makes an incision in the gum and accesses the bone tissue. Using special mechanical instruments that are part of the implantology system, the dentist drills a hole into which an implant of the desired material and a connector are inserted. The implants must be placed carefully to minimise the risk of damaging the bone tissue. This step can be extended, depending on whether the implant is placed in one or two stages. In the first case, a prefabricated prosthetic crown or bridge implant of the chosen material is placed in one visit. The patient leaves the office with a "new tooth" in the mouth after placement. In the case of two-stage implantation - it is placed after a period of healing of the teeth, which usually takes several months (stage 4).
- Stage III: The postoperative recovery period
The healing period after the implantation procedure is extremely important. Some doctors believe that 50% of the success of a dental implantation procedure is exemplary, and the remaining 50% is due to a flawless healing process. The first 2-3 weeks are the most important. This is when the most intensive regeneration process of the teeth after implantation takes place. The next visit is usually 2-4 months after the dental implantation procedure.
- Stage IV: Prosthetics
Depending on the need for the placement of implants, fixed or removable restorations can be fitted. This depends on the condition of the patient's mouth prior to implantation and the extent of the missing teeth. Multiple defects require the use of bridges or dentures at the time of dental implantation. In the case of complete defects, patients usually choose full dentures (removable or fixed) in the right materials. Check the clinic's website to find out how much a turnkey dental implant installation costs, if necessary.
The implantation procedure and treatment is completely painless. It is carried out under dental anaesthetic, which eliminates any sensation of pain in the teeth. Also, if the procedure is very stressful for the patient, the dentist may consider the possibility of using premedication the patient before placing a high quality dental implant.
At the first consultation, the doctor will tell you in detail about which teeth need to be treated first, about the condition of your gums and about which design you need to choose in order to fill in the missing teeth.
About what actions and manipulations need to be carried out. Learn how to take good care of your mouth so you don't have to go to the dentist as often as possible.
After discussing the above aspects, your dentist will draw up a treatment plan, guide you by the stages, timing, cost of the upcoming treatment, make, if necessary, computer diagnostics of the teeth and make an appointment for you at a convenient time for you to start treatment.
It is worth restoring a lost tooth as early as possible, because delaying such a process can lead to unpleasant health consequences and undesirable costs in the future.
Patients who seek help for tooth loss too late unwittingly start the process of destruction of other adjacent teeth, because the load during chewing is not evenly distributed.
Dental implantation is one of the most reliable and effective procedures that allows you to restore one or more teeth.
The method of dental implantation is now very popular, because it helps patients to restore lost teeth both in the upper and lower jaws without grinding pine teeth, which is always carried out during prosthetics (crowns).
With implantation, the number of lost teeth does not matter. Dental implantation is considered to be the only right way out of care for everyone, because the healing rate of implants today is over 99%!
