What are dental implants?
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots placed in the jaw bones during a surgical procedure. They are the best choice for single teeth, shortened rows of teeth and in cases of toothlessness.
The implants must
- withstand the same chewing load as natural teeth,
- be absolutely safe with regard to allergies (titanium), and
- have excellent tissue compatibility.
Our experts will advise you on the choice of the optimal treatment method.
Use of dental implants
01.
Replacement of individual teeth
Tooth gaps must be closed for functional and esthetic reasons. Tooth gaps lead to tooth migration, tooth tilting and tooth twisting and thus to changes in the entire dentition. This can cause jaw problems or damage and increases the susceptibility of these teeth to decay and periodontitis. The best solution for tooth gaps of any size is the dental implant. When an implant is placed in a gap, there is no need to grind the neighboring teeth - the denture integrates perfectly into the dental arch.
02.
Closing larger gaps
If a larger tooth gap is not supplemented by dental implant restoration, this leads to undesirable changes in facial features and early wrinkling. If a tooth gap remains in the dentition, the jawbone recedes because the support provided by the removed tooth root is missing.
03.
Replacement of missing terminal molars (free-end situation)
In the absence of terminal posterior teeth, a fixed restoration is impossible without implants. Dental implants also replace the wearing of a denture.
04.
Dentures in case of complete toothlessness (edentulous jaw)
Especially in the lower jaw, it is usually not possible to create a well-fitting prosthesis. However, with dental implants, a secure fit can be achieved.
Advantages of dental implants
Durable solution
Naturally beautiful teeth
Safety and chewing comfort - for a lifetime
Esthetics and chewing function are restored
Prevention of bone resorption
Neighboring teeth do not have to be prepared in the event of tooth loss
Ensure stable anchorage of dental crowns, dental bridges or partial dentures
Requirements
Navigated implantation
Aftercare
Prerequisites for dental implants
- Sufficient space for the prosthetic abutment (crown)
- Good oral hygiene
- Sufficient bone supply
For the stability of the dental implant, it is important to have a healthy and strong jawbone. Years of wearing a total denture, periodontitis or missing teeth often cause a significant reduction of the jaw bone. If the jaw bones are too narrow or too low, a DVT X-ray in our clinic allows us to accurately assess the existing bone supply and construct missing bone mass using a software program. Bone augmentation can often be done in the same session with implant placement; in special cases, a healing period is necessary.
Navigated Implantation and Backward Planning
Modern imaging techniques have entered implantology in recent years and allow preoperative planning that enables very safe and predictive implant placement.
The 3-dimensional imaging of the bone enables backward planning. First, the tooth is virtually placed in the ideal position, then the implant is virtually planned in the correct position below it. In this way it can be determined whether there is sufficiently wide and high bone at this position. If the deviation is slight, a change in the implant position, implant diameter or implant length is sufficient for a suitable implantation. This is then used to fabricate a drilling template.
If too much bone is missing at this point, the missing bone can be determined by virtual bone grafting. This virtual bone part is then milled from a foreign bone by a milling machine in the CAD-CAM process (in the near future printed via 3D printer).
Through a surgical procedure, this manufactured bone part is screwed under the oral mucosa where it is needed. It heals for 4 - 6 months. Then the implant can be placed in the ideal position.
By making drilling templates that allow guided implantation, it is possible to implant very gently, possibly even without opening the oral mucosa. This ensures faster surgery, less swelling and less postoperative discomfort.
Planning also makes it possible to fabricate a temporary denture before implant placement so that the patient can be fitted with it immediately after surgery.
Advantages of navigated implant placement and backward planning:
- Predictable results
- Short operation times
- Less swelling
- Less postoperative discomfort
- Immediate provisionalization on the same day
Aftercare
With appropriate aftercare with e.g. medication, cool compresses, etc., swelling can be largely avoided. Immediately after an implantological restoration, the surgical site should only be cleaned with a soft toothbrush and only carefully loaded. Antiseptic mouth rinses (for example, with chlorhexidine) are available as an additional aid.
Home care and regular professional dental hygiene (prophylaxis) at our clinic are the key to long-term preservation of the dental implant.
Treatment process
