Implantology, as a field of dentistry, contains elements of oral surgery and dental prosthetics.
In recent years, implants are shown as the optimal solution for the lack of teeth, partial and total. Implants, made of titanium or circonium (ceramic) replace completley the root of the tooth. 3- 6 months after the implant placement, crowns, bridges or dentures are placed onto them. More and more patients are deciding for the implants, no matter if the reason is frazzle denture of the patient and they wish to replace it with the stronger and longer lasting solution, or implant placement is the only possible option in order to be able to set up the bridge between the existing natural teeth of the patient.
Implants are often the only solution in case of major damage during injury to the teeth and jaw.
Implants can be embedded in the lower and upper jaws.
Preconditions that must exist for it, among other things are:
- Condition of the patient’s jaw - sufficient height and width of bone for the implant placement
- Health condition of the patient - before the procedure it is necessary to determine the patient’s health condition and whether the patient is ready for the procedure.
For the implant placement it is not necessary to extract the healthy teeth, they are being extracted only in case when it is not possible to use the existing root of the tooth for the standard prosthetic procedures.
In case the patient does not have the proper state of the jaw in places where implants are supposed to be fitted, which means that the bone is too narrow or not deep enough (high), in that case so called sinus lift and bone augmentation are being performed – bone transplantation (own or artificial) in order to upgrade or place the bone tissue. Several months after the bone augmentation implant placement is being performed.
In order to make it easier on you to choose implants as the best solution for you, we will describe the most common cases when implant placement is being performed:
1) Removable prostheses on the implants – bracing prothesis
In case of total absence of the teeth (on one or both jaws), up to four implants are being placed per jaw on which a rung is being attached that connects them, to which a removable total prostheses is being placed, therefore guarantees its stability and strength.
2) Fixed bridge on the implants – in case of total absence of the teeth with no removable protheses
It is placed in intervals up to 8 implants along the entire length of the jaw that are connected with the fixed bridge which fills the entire jaw.
3) Lack of 1 tooth – to prevent grinding of the other teeth in order to place the fixed bridge
It is recommended the placement of 1 implant on the place where 1 tooth is missing and then placement of the adequate crown. In that way, two neighbouring teeth will stay untouched and preserved.
4) Lack of two or more teeth – Placement of two or more implants
Placed implants serve as carriers of the fixed bridge which fills the edentulous space without damaging adjacent healthy teeth.
Duration of the implant placing and prosthetics
Depending on the necessary procedures, bone augmentation, sinus lifting, extracting teeth, implant placing and prosthetics, the procedure is performed through several visits. Time for the bone regeneration after the augmentation should be defined individually, and it may take from several months up to a year. The exact time of the bone tissue regeneration must also be individually defined, based on the eventual teeth extraction. After the implant placement it takes time for the integration, so called osseointegration, which lasts 4 – 6 months in the upper jaw, and in the lower jaw slightly shorter – 2 -3 months. After a successful implant placement and osseointegration, prosthetics follows.
Duration of the implants
Implants are “eternal”, however regular oral hygiene and check-ups at your dentist are mandatory.
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