What are Implants?
Implants are artificial tooth roots made with high precision, made of biocompatible, highly pure titanium. It has a particularly good texture; bio-compatibility, combined with the bones, forms a secure connection, the so-called Osseointegration. Allergic reactions to titanium are not known. This tooth root is an integral pillar for the “three”. With it, crowns, bridges, or dentures can be attached.
For whom Implants Useful?
Implants are a good alternative for periodontal disease, periodontitis, tooth decay, or tooth loss due to accidents. An age limit does not exist here. Tooth loss affects more and more young patients and predominantly the elderly.
We Distinguish Between
Single phase implants:
During the healing period, the implant planted above the mucosa remains visible. After this phase, the restorations can be cemented or screwed onto the crown structure of the implant.
Two-phase implant:
This implant is invisible and is covered during the healing of the oral mucosa. It must be exposed again, only after this phase is complete, under a local anesthetic.
How is an Implant Constructed?
There is usually a screw or cylindrical system. They are available in different lengths and diameters. The dental implant is implanted exactly where the prior tooth has fallen out and grows together with the bone.
How is an Implant Anchored?
When can Iit be Implanted?
Immediate implantation:
After the removal of a tooth, the artificial tooth root can be implanted directly into the alveoli. Most of the gums, bone, and tissue remain. This method is not recommended for acute periodontitis or bone loss. In this case, a bone re-structuring should take place beforehand.
Delaying an immediate implant:
In this case, it is implanted in the former alveoli after about 6-12 weeks. During this time, inflammation can heal, and it reduces an early implant failure.
Late implantation:
With this process, there are usually three months or more between a tooth extraction. During this time, you can be sure that inflammation around the alveoli is completely healed.
How Long do Implants Last?
To ensure the preservation of the implant, regular control and great oral hygiene is paramount. Here, the function and the correct position of the denture must be checked. After years of studies, it was discovered that a very high success rate is predicted for toothless jaws, and it was shown that implants can last a lifetime.
Many causes can result in the loss of the implant, e.g., heavy smoking, poor oral hygiene, persistent bleeding of the gums, and inflammation of the bone tissue. Sometimes it may happen in rare cases that the artificial tooth root does not connect with the bone.
What Advantages do Implants Have?
Implant-supported dentures have many functional, aesthetic, and medical benefits. This creates the feeling of a natural smile; it can no longer slip or fall out, and the patients feel as though they can chew and speak with their teeth again.
What Medical Benefits do They Have?
An implant only replaces the missing gaps, and it has a significant advantage that one does not have to grind the healthy adjacent teeth. Implants can provide a lot of strength for the surrounding bones, preserving the bone and supporting tissue. Bone loss can be delayed, and therefore implants should be planted as soon as is possible after the extraction of a tooth.
What You should Know?
- For implants, a surgical procedure is required
- With an eventual opening of the maxillary sinus
- The procedure can be costly
- Requires more oral hygiene
- Long duration of treatment
