A tooth implant is a replacement for the root of a tooth. It is made from a particularly durable, lightweight and biocompatible material (titanium, zirconium or their alloy) and resembles a small screw. When restoring a lost tooth, the “screw” is surgically screwed into the jaw, and an artificial crown of the tooth is attached to it.
Implantation is the most advanced way to restore both one and several or even all lost teeth. Such treatment is recommended by dentists around the world for many reasons:
- Reliable procedure – today threaded implants heal in as many as 96-100% of cases and serve flawlessly throughout life.
- Painless, uncomplicated and fast operation – local anaesthesia is enough for the tooth implantation procedure, and the operation itself takes only 30-60 minutes.
- Maximum aesthetic result – a modern implanted tooth can only be distinguished from a real tooth by a doctor looking closely at the patient’s smile.
Why is it necessary to restore the lost tooth?
In case of loss of a tooth or several, it is necessary to take care of their immediate restoration as possible. With a delay, undesirable processes will inevitably begin in the body:
- Towards the resulting gap in the teeth, adjacent teeth will begin to fall out. A worsening of the bite will make it more difficult to chew, brush your teeth properly, and headaches can also begin. The resulting gap and the displacements of the teeth, of course, will begin to harm the beauty of the smile.
- Without receiving the usual load, the jaw will begin to “melt” in the place of the lost tooth. As a result, over time, the shape of the face will change, the person will age prematurely.
The course of the dental implantation procedure:
1. Examination and consultation
Treatment with dental implants is possible for all adult patients. Dental implantation is one of the most reliable treatment methods in medicine – the success rate of treatment reaches 96-100%. The success of treatment is influenced (but not limited) by the patient’s oral hygiene, the thickness of the gums and the quantity / quality of the jaw bone, smoking, diseases such as diabetes and osteoporosis, radiation therapy, the experience of the doctor and the quality of the implant itself. During the consultation, the patient is examined, an X-ray is taken, the treatment plan (stagedness, aesthetic expectations and finances) is agreed, and the date of implantation is assigned.
2. Implantation procedure
Dental implantation is performed quickly – one implant is screwed in an average of 20-30 minutes. Dental implantation is painless, local anaesthesia is enough, narcosis is not used. After implantation, a short course of antibiotics can be prescribed, a slight, short-term swelling, slight pain in the operated area are possible. Often, implants can be screwed in immediately after tooth extraction – this is called single-blade implantation. In some cases, it is also possible to immediately put on a temporary crown. The possibility of this operation depends not on the implant, but on the individual situation of the patient. Each time the doctor determines the appropriateness of such a methodology and the possible risks / advantages. Increasingly, an additional surgical guide (plastic plate) is used for operations, which allows you to more accurately plan the position of the implant and perform the operation faster.
3. Healing and wearing temporary crowns and/or gum formation
The implant heals in 4-12 weeks, the sutures are removed after a week. If the jaw bone is missing, a bone extension procedure is performed, which is very similar to implantation – performed quickly, painlessly and reliably, very often and at the same time with implantation. In case of bone augmentation, healing lasts 6-9 months.
4. Attaching a new tooth
After the implant is healed, implant prosthetics with the crown are performed. Depending on the chosen method of treatment, the patient may be offered to put temporary crowns, or wait for permanent ones. To make a crown, you need to remove the tooth print, carry out measurements, form a gum profile. The crown on the implants will be made by a dental technician. Depending on the material chosen (plastic, metal ceramic, glass ceramic, zirconia ceramic) and the experience of the technician, the crown’s aesthetic appearance, lifespan and price will depend on the technology and experience of the technician.
5. Regular maintenance
Dental implants, like your own teeth, require regular care and visits to the dentist and oral hygienist.