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Implantation
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root which is placed into the jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge.
During the healing period, natural bone cells integrate with the surface of the implant. After ossification a crown or a fixed bridge is bonded with it.
Benefits of implantation
Implants are both functional and aesthetic.
- • Improve appearance thus confidence
- • Improve speech problems
- • Give comfort
- • Make eating easier and more enjoyable
- • Look and feel better than dentures
- • Do not rely on neighbouring teeth for support
- • Help maintain the integrity of the jaw bone
- • Provide strength and durability
How permanent are dental implants?
The location appears to influence the reliability of an implant. In case of the lower front regio the survival rate of an implant after five years is 95% and in the sides and lower jaw it is 85%. We can say that implantations have a high success rate.
Implantation procedure
During the first visit you can have the consultation when a panoramic x-ray is done. At the second visit the implant operation is carried out and a week later you need to come back for stich removal. 3-6 months later prior to the preparation of crown or bridgework the gum forming collar is required and two weeks after the preparation the fixation of crown/bridework is done.
The implantologist or oral surgeon will expose the bone in the jaw where the tooth is missing. Then he will drill a hole and insert a metal post it. In order to allow the gum tissues to heal a temporary healing abutment is often placed on the implant and the maintenance of the emergence profile space to allow for proper contouring of the final restoration. The whole procedure is generally done under a local anaesthetic, but on demand sedation or a general anaesthetic is used at additional cost. The gum is then stitched over the post and it is left to heal while the bone grows around the post, making it secure. The surgery takes approximately an hour.
The healing period follows the implant placement. Patients wear temporary bridges in the meantime. In case of lower jaw implantation it takes 3 months and 6 for the upper.
In certain cases, implants can be placed straight after tooth extraction. If you have your tooth or teeth extracted, there is an 8-10 week healing phase before implant surgery is commenced.
Three or six months after that, the second stage starts in which replacement teeth are mounted onto the metal post. This requires a small incision in the gum above the implant. The replacement teeth can be single or in a group and attached to surrounding natural teeth. The bite needs to be well-adjusted to distribute pressure evenly. Again this intervention lasts about an hour.
We provide a guarantee of 5-10 years on implantation.
