Dental Implants

Many people complain about problems related to oral and dental health. Patients turn to dental clinics with complaints about tooth decay, injuries to the teeth and gums or tooth loss. In cases where the patient has tooth loss in the mouth, doctors recommend dental implant treatment to their patients.

TEETH IMPLANT

A dental implant that is made of titanium and is fixed into the jawbone to replace the missing tooth in the mouth.

In patients who have lost one or more teeth due to tooth decay, gum disease, accidents or similar reasons, or who are missing congenital teeth, artificial titanium tooth roots that are inserted into the jawbone to take over the function of the missing tooth are called implants.

As the material titanium has no incompatibilities with the body, the success of implant treatment is very high. Implant teeth, which aesthetically come closest to the appearance of natural teeth, best fulfil the functions of our lost natural teeth and offer the best solution for tooth loss. Implants offer better speech, aesthetics and chewing function than conventional dentures. It is a comfortable and reliable application.

People with missing teeth can have both functional and aesthetic problems. Tooth loss can also lead to TMJ problems as it prevents effective chewing function. In addition, the self-confidence of those affected can be affected by aesthetic problems and speech disorders.

Situations in which dental implants can be used

• When one or more teeth are missing and healthy neighbouring teeth should not be cut for a bridge.

• One or more missing teeth and healthy neighbouring teeth to build a bridge.

• Situations in which an interruption is undesirable.

• If there are no healthy teeth to support either side of the lost teeth to create a bridge, removable dentures can be used.

However, removable dentures can be used for daily activities such as eating, drinking and speaking. They significantly affect patient comfort and aesthetics. They are often not favoured because they do not meet their expectations.

As such, in cases where implant-supported fixed crowns and bridges ensure patient comfort and aesthetics, much better results are achieved in terms of expectations.

Completely edentulous mouths make it difficult for the patient to hold the prosthesis, chew and speak. Due to problems with speech, any prosthesis instead of a complete denture (palatal prosthesis) with 4 (All on Four), 6 (All on Six) or more implants placed in the jaw allows patients with fixed prostheses (crowns and bridges) to achieve improved comfort and aesthetics.

Advantages of Dental Implants

Dental implants have many advantages. They offer the closest solution to the natural tooth. A well-fitted implant does not cause problems with chewing and speech functions.

With proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime. This is a great advantage, especially compared to other prosthetic options.

While conventional bridge treatments may require the neighbouring teeth to be ground down, they remain intact with implant treatment.

Implants prevent the jawbone from receding over time. If implants are not placed after tooth loss, the jawbone can weaken over time.

Dental implants are one of the procedures with the highest success rate in dentistry.

Disadvantages of Dental Implants

The disadvantages of dental implants can be more expensive than other prostheses. However, the long-term benefits can offset these costs.

Placing a dental implant requires a surgical procedure that can involve a healing process and some risks. The placement of the implant and the healing process can take several months. This may be a disadvantage for those looking for a quick solution, but can also be seen as an advantage in the long term.

For patients who do not have sufficient jaw bone, bone grafting may be required initially, which can extend the treatment time and increase the cost.

ANAESTHESIA

Dental implantation is performed on an outpatient basis under local anaesthesia, so patients do not feel any pain during the procedure.

APPLICATION OF DENTAL IMPLANTS

Implants are manufactured in various diameters and lengths. The jawbone must have sufficient width and height in the area where the implant is to be inserted.

At the same time, the quality of the bone is also one of the factors that influence success.

Insufficient bone can now be strengthened by using bone grafts (powder).

One of the most important factors for implant success is oral hygiene and the health of the gums.

If the patient’s general state of health is good, there is no upper age limit for the use of implants.

However, implants are not recommended for children and adolescents whose bone development is not yet complete.

The duration of a single implantation is about 10–15 minutes. The patient does not feel any pain from the anaesthetic during the procedure. The anaesthetic lasts between 2–3 hours.

Mild pain may occur in the first 3 days after implantation, which can be relieved with simple painkillers.

DURATION OF TREATMENT

The duration of a single implant application is approximately 10–15 minutes and depends on the number and localisation of the implants.

The implantation can be completed in a single session. However, a waiting period of 2–5 months must be observed for the build-up of implant crowns, the so-called ‘osteointegration’, so that the implant can biologically fuse with the jawbone.

After this time, the second phase — the fabrication of the crowns on the implant — is completed in an average of 7–15 days.