Implants
A dental implant is an artificial substitute/replacement for the root portion of your natural tooth and is anchored into a pre-drilled socket in your jaw-bone to support a crown, bridge or secure a denture firmly in place. Implants are made from titanium, a material that is well tolerated by bone and integrates easily with bone tissue. During the placement of a dental implant (surgical phase), the goal is to achieve a close contact between the outer surface of the implant and the surrounding bone tissue so they can "fuse” together (osseointegration), creating a stable support for the new teeth.
Your new implant does not solely replace your missing tooth. In order to regain full function, a prosthetic replacement such as a crownbridgeor denture must be fitted onto the implant(s). This is called the prosthodontic phase and it occurs after the implant has had time to fuse with your bone. Different variations in prosthetic replacements based on type and the material used are available. Further down on this page you will find information on how to choose the best prosthetic replacement for you.
Can anyone get dental implants?
In most cases, anyone healthy enough to undergo a routine dental extraction or oral surgery can be considered for a dental implant. Patients should have healthy gums and a sufficient quantity and quality of bone tissue available enough to hold the implant. They also must be committed to good oral hygiene and regular dental visits. If you are considering implants our implantologist will gladly advise you to see if they are right for you. Circumstances where implants may not be suitable and need to be evaluated on an individual basis include:
- Heavy smoking – this slows down and hinders the healing process.
- Excessive alcohol intake – disrupts healing of the gums.
- Periodontal gum disease – all active gum disease must be treated prior to any implant procedure to ensure the long-term success of any treatment. Periodontal disease is a major cause of bone loss, which would hinder the success of any implant procedure.
- Immuno-compromised individuals (steroids, auto-immune disease, patients undergoing radiation treatment).
- Teeth grinders (bruxism) – a night-time splint can be given to treat this.
How Successful Are Dental Implants?
Success rates of dental implants vary, depending on where in the jaw the implants are placed but, in general, dental implants have a success rate of up to 98%. With proper care (see below), implants can last a lifetime.
How Painful Are Dental Implants?
Most people who have received dental implants say that there is very little discomfort involved in the procedure. Local anesthesia can be used during the procedure, and most patients report that implants involve less pain than a tooth extraction. After the procedure, minor symptoms and discomfort may be relieved with common over the counter pain killers. Our dentists will tell you exactly what to use.
How many teeth can a dental implant support?
Traditionally, an implant placed into your bone supports a single crown and this is know as a "single tooth implant”. However, if you have several missing teeth, you do not necessarily need an implant for every missing tooth: one implant can support several teeth via a bridge or denture. The number of implants required depends on the volume and density of bone tissue available at each implant site. In the case of full-mouth reconstructions, where an arch of several teeth (10+) needs to be supported in either the upper or lower jaw, a minimum of 4 implants in the upper jaw and 2 in the lower jaw would be required. The exact number of implants needed would depend on the individual case and our implantologist would be able to advise you on the best solution after a thorough examination and assessment.
How much time is required to have an implant procedure?
A single dental implant placement is usually completed in less than an hour as an office procedure with local anesthesia. The implant is then allowed to heal with the bone to form a solid graft. This usually takes 3 or 4 months in the lower jaw and 5 or 6 months in the upper jaw. During this time, the head of the implant usually remains hidden under your gum. Once you have been given the all clear you can then have your crown,bridge or denture made and fitted.
If you have an insufficient amount or poor quality of bone and bone-grafting procedures are necessary, the overall process can take up to 12 months or more. Your dentist will determine which surgical procedure is best for you.
How will I know if I have enough bone for implants?
Using a combination of dental X-rays and a CT scan, your bone density and volume can be assessed, and information about nearby anatomical structures to avoid (such as nerves) can also be gathered.
What if I don’t have enough bone for dental implants?
In modern dentistry there are numerous techniques for augmenting bone density in order to attain a proper insertion and stabilization of a dental implant. In our clinic we perform bone-regeneration sinus lifts as well as guided bone regeneration.
How long do dental implants last?
Dental implants have been used for over 30 years to replace missing teeth and they can last a lifetime depending on how well you look after them. Like any other restoration, your implant-supported teeth can still be damaged by trauma and affected by gum disease and poor oral hygiene.
How Do I Care for Dental Implants?
Dental implants require the same care as real teeth, including brushing twice a day or after every meal, flossing, and regular dental check-ups including scaling professional cleaning (scaling and air polishing). Poor oral hygiene can lead to inflammation of the gum tissue around the implant which in turn over time will lead to bone loss and may cause the exposure of the implant. As a result caring for your implant is crucial but it does not involve more than routine oral hygiene.
How much do dental implants cost?
The price of dental implants may vary depending on a couple of factors including the amount of teeth being replaced with implants, the kind of prosthetic restoration used and if needed; any bone augmentation or regeneration treatments. Prices are commonly divided into 2 phases: surgical phase – which includes the actual implantation itself and the prosthodontic phase – in which the appropriate restoration such as a crown or bridge that sits on the implant(s) is made.
In our clinic the cost of a single tooth implant with a porcelain crown is 1050-1260 € . and for the best esthetic result; an implant with an all-ceramic-lava crown is 1375-1510€. In our prices list you will find a complete breakdown of each component involved in the treatment with implants. For more detailed information pertaining to the cost of various individualized treatment combinations associated with dental implants can be found on treatment options with prices..
What kind of restorations are possible on implants?
In our clinic we make crowns and bridges from porcelain fused to metal or all-ceramic-lava all-ceramic on a zirconium base. The cost of making a crown on an implant is higher than the cost of making a crown on a natural root due to the abutments which link the crown with the implant.
Is the implant procedure safe?
The implant procedure in today’s dentistry has become rather routine but just like any other surgical procedure their can always be complications. To decrease the risk of complications to a minimum, our dentists always do a broad spectrum of specialized diagnostic tests and even sometimes prior to the actual implant procedure there may be a series of preparation treatments.
Is an implant better than a natural tooth?
An implant is just a solution to a missing tooth and even though currently it is the best treatment for missing teeth nothing is better than your own natural teeth and that is why it is important to care and maintain your teeth for long as possible.
