Dental implants

What is a dental implant

A dental implant restores or improves the chewing function of the teeth by means of implanting one or more metal posts (implants) into the jaw and improves the appearance of the teeth. It is a safe permanent solution to replace missing teeth without having to reshape adjacent teeth.

Dental implants are used to replace one missing tooth, several teeth or to treat a toothless jaw. The price depends on the quality of the material and the implant system used. There is a wide range of products made in different countries on the market. The quality of the result and the implant price is also affected by the dentist placing the implant. 

Our clinic cooperates only with the best; therefore, we use Swiss implant Straumann. 

The Straumann implant manufactured by the Swiss company Institut Straumann AG is made of titanium. A long-term effectiveness of Straumann implants is almost 98% which was confirmed by clinical research performed for over 25 years. The lifespan of a dental implant is individual, depending on many factors.

Who should undergo the surgery

Dental implants are intended for anybody who wants to improve the appearance of his/her teeth and restore their function. It is a safe long-term solution to replace missing teeth. Implants can only be used in young persons after their jaws stopped growing, i.e. after the age of 15 or girls and the age of 17-18 for boys.

Before the procedure

If you are considering having a tooth implant it is necessary to undergo an initial assessment before the treatment performed by a dentist who will check your teeth and decide whether this particular treatment is suitable for you, explain its scope and anesthesia to you and inform you about any possible risks of the surgery. You may ask any questions, in particular, questions related to the procedure, your expectations and concerns, during the discussion.

When making a binding appointment, you will be provided with an information sheet on how to prepare for the surgery, including information on eating, drinking, smoking and taking or discontinuing some medicines. Complying with all the recommendations is necessary for the surgery to run smoothly and for event-free healing.

What does the treatment involve

The surgery is performed in local anesthesia in an OR in a completely sterile environment. During the procedure, a titanium implant is placed into the bone of the upper or lower jaw. No hospital stay is necessary when local anesthesia is used. Should analgosedation be used, the patient is required to stay in the clinic until evening or until the next day, depending on post-operative course of the treatment. 

Implants are placed approximately 2-4 months following tooth extraction. An implant fixture is first placed that has to osseointegrate. Under standard conditions, this phase lasts for approximately two months. It is only at this stage that a prosthetic crown can be placed on the titanium implant.

Several conditions have to be met in order to be able to receive a dental implant. The main prerequisite is impeccable oral hygiene and sufficient bone in the jaw. Patients with insufficient bone to support dental implants are candidates for a so-called bone augmentation which is most commonly done by a bone graft surgically removed from a different part of mouth or by adapting the bone.

Implantation is postponed for large bone defects and the extraction of teeth with several roots until the extraction wound has been augmented. An implant is placed after 6 months in this case.

A bone graft is used for bone augmentation which is fixated with miniscrews. This method enables placing an implant four months after bone augmentation.

Sufficient bone is a basic precondition both for ensuring implant stability and achieving perfect cosmetic results. The dentist together with a dental surgeon will propose a suitable solution to you in order to achieve a perfect long-term result.

After the surgery

After the surgery, it is recommended to apply ice packs, elevate the head and use pain killers as needed. The dentist may recommend antibiotic treatment in individual cases. Osseointegration (the connection between the implant and the bone) takes approximately 3-8 weeks according to the implant type. For poor quality bone sites, the process is longer and may take up to 6 months. Implant overloading has to be avoided in this period and due compliance with any dietary recommendations of the treating dentist has to be ensured. Oral hygiene principles have to be observed in order not to endanger osseointegration. It is not recommended to smoke or drink alcohol. Sun-bathing, engaging in sports and more strenuous physical activity are not recommended either in the week after the procedure.