Dental implantology is a branch of surgical dentistry that deals with implantation issues. It involves the restoration of lost teeth by implanting special structures made of titanium, ceramics or other materials in their place.
Why is dental implantation the best option for eliminating dental defects? First of all, because the implant restores the tooth completely, that is, not only on the outside, but also on the inside, at the root level. This fully restores chewing ability, prevents bone atrophy, and leaves neighboring healthy teeth completely undamaged.
Implants are an artificial tooth root – the part of the tooth that is in the bone. On top of it is placed an abutment – a head that fixes the crown. Crowns have a natural look and with proper care can last up to 25 years, unlike dentures, which last up to 10 years. If a crown on an implant has to be replaced, there is no problem.
Types and prices of dental implants
Depending on how many teeth need to be restored, the amount of bone in the jaw, soft tissue, different treatment protocols are used:
- The classic technique involves replacing one root;
- One-stage methods are used in cases of multiple adentia or total absence of teeth;
- One-stage implantation allows an implant and a temporary crown to be placed immediately after a tooth extraction. The procedure is performed with the help of navigational surgical templates
- Mini-implants are used to install prosthetic supports or to correct bites with bracket systems.
When implantation is needed
Dental implantology and surgery can solve many dental problems. These include:
- A single included dental defect when one or more teeth are missing from certain areas of the row;
- Limited included defects, when several consecutive teeth in a row are missing, allowing them to be replaced with
using implants, a bridge construction; - Complete absence of the entire dentition of both the upper and lower jaw;
- Inability to install removable dentures due to their intolerance on the part of the patient (gag reflex, sensitivity to the components in the prosthesis, etc.);
- Jaw clamping disorders due to dental defects
Frequently Asked Questions
How is preparation for a dental implant done?
The preparatory stage is one of the most important when performing dental implants. The patient must pay more attention to oral hygiene because sterility is the key to a successful surgery. In addition, in preparation for the treatment, a jaw structure is studied, a 3-D computer tomography is taken and the jaws are scanned. Oral hygiene – removal of plaque and calculus, treatment or extraction of teeth – is performed.
The doctor said that I have bone atrophy, what is that and what to do about it?
Bone atrophy is a reduction in bone volume that occurs immediately after tooth extraction. By nature, the normal blood supply inside the bone is achieved by the load that is transmitted through the root of the natural tooth when chewing food. Once the tooth is removed, the metabolic processes in the bone stop and it shrinks and decreases in size. This often prevents a dental implant from being placed because it is not possible to fix an implant in the small amount of bone.
There are several ways out of this situation: a sinus elevator on the upper jaw (the bottom of the maxillary sinus is displaced and the space is filled with bone material, thus increasing the amount of bone tissue), an increase in bone tissue through guided bone grafting. Soft tissue augmentation.
Are there many contraindications to dental implants?
Dental implantation, like any surgical procedure, has certain contraindications. Absolute limitations include malignancies, diabetes, tuberculosis, immune system disorders (HIV, AIDS) and blood clotting, acute diseases of the nervous system, blood vessels or joints. In addition, implantation is not recommended or allowed after prior treatment for heavy smokers, with poor oral hygiene. In general, there are few contraindications and surgery is contraindicated only in acute and serious stages of disease.
What is included in the cost of dental implants
The all-inclusive package includes:
- Implantologist consultation
- Diagnosis: X-rays or computed tomography;
- Treatment planning;
- Implant system, consumables;
- Local anesthesia;
- Implantation of implants according to the selected method;
- Taking impressions/scans, fabrication and placement of permanent structures on implants;
- Postoperative control;