What is Dental Implant? In Which Cases Is It Applied?
Dental implants are titanium screws that serve as tooth roots and replace missing teeth in our patients who have lost their teeth for various reasons. It is a treatment method that we apply in cases of single tooth loss, multiple teeth loss or even total teeth loss cases.
In cases where there is a single missing tooth, thanks to dental implant treatment, only the missing tooth can be replaced without any preparation on the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth, unlike the crown-bridge treatment which is an alternative to dental implant treatment option.
In cases of complete teeth loss, we can make a treatment plan where we can apply a fixed denture with multiple implant loadings and porcelain/zirconium crowns. We can also decide to load less implants and make removable prostheses (dentures) with increased retention.
Is Everyone Suitable For Dental Implants? Who Cannot Have Implants?
-The patient to whom dental implants will be applied should be older than 18 years of age, in other words, the bone development must be completed.
-There should be no systemic diseases or these disorders should be under control.
-The area where implant loading is planned should have sufficient bone volume. If there is not enough bone area for dental implant treatment, we can provide the required amount of bone with various treatment methods (graft application, sinus lifting, etc.).
Dental Implant Treatment Process
When a patient who has lost a tooth or has a tooth that needs to be extracted comes to our clinic, first of all, the necessary x-rays are taken and the examination gets done by our expert dentists.
If tooth extraction is necessary, two different ways can be followed for implant treatment:
1.Implant loading can be done following the extraction in the same appointment if the surrounding bone area is sufficient and appropriate.
2.If not, a recovery period of 2-3 months must be waited following tooth extraction. During this period, new bone formation takes place in the area where the tooth is extracted. When the recovery period is completed, follow-up/control x-rays are taken again and it is checked whether the required bone area is formed. Afterwards, the dental implant gets loaded.
Does Implant Cause Pain? Is Implant Surgery Painful?
Since the area to be treated is numbed with local anesthesia during the placement of the dental implant, no pain is felt during the procedure.
In the following days of the implant placement, minor pain and swelling may be seen in the relevant area -after all, a surgical procedure is performed even if it’s a minor one-. However, these discomforts are not higher than the pain experienced after a standard tooth extraction.
In order to prevent the pain after the implant surgery, our dentists will give you the necessary recommendations and prescribe the medications you need.
If you follow your doctor’s instructions, you can complete this process without any discomfort.
What Happens After Implant Placement?
Contrary to popular belief, dental implant is not the part of the tooth in the mouth we see. The implant replaces only the root part of the missing tooth in the jawbone. The part visible in the mouth is the crown/veneer which is placed over the implant.
After the implant is placed in the bone, the crown can be adapted immediately. In cases where this is not possible, a recovery period of approximately 2-3 months is waited after the placement of the dental implant. During this period, our aim is to avoid chewing pressure on the implant and a healthy and solid bond between the bone and the implant. When the waiting period is over, the dental impressions of our patient are taken and the prosthesis(crown) on the implant is completed and the treatment is concluded.
In cases where the crown over the implant cannot be made immediately, in order to relieve the aesthetic concerns of our patients (especially in cases with loss of anterior teeth), we can choose among various temporary prosthesis (denture) techniques for covering the 2-3 month period, when we wait the implant-bone connection. Thus, we save our patient from a bad appearance caused by missing teeth during this period.
What are the Advantages/Disadvantages of the Implant? What are the Benefits of the Implant? Is Implant Harmful?
-For our patients with missing teeth, the treatment option closest to the appearance and function of their natural teeth is dental implants.
-Contrary to alternative treatment options, it does not create a feeling of excess in the mouth.
-Since it is a fixed treatment, it does not cause discomfort due to the loss of retention that may occur in removable dentures, and does not disturb the comfort of the patient.
-It allows us to achieve high aesthetic-cosmetic results.
-It makes it easier to maintain oral hygiene.
-It is a long-lasting treatment option.
How is the Implant Protected? How to Clean Implant?
Oral hygiene after dental implant treatment is not much different from standard recommendations:
-Teeth should be brushed for a minimum of 2 minutes twice a day.
-All interdental spaces (including implants) should be cleaned with dental floss at least once a day. If there are areas where dental floss cannot be applied, your dentist will recommend the necessary oral hygiene tools and describe their use.
-Oral hygiene should be supported with regular mouthwash use.
-You should visit the dentist at least once every 6 months for a dental check-up.
To get your appointment for DENTAL IMPLANT from our dental clinic and professional dentists in Istanbul-TURKEY you can click the link below.
