IMPLANTS

Basic information on implants

A missing tooth can leave you feeling embarrassed, but luckily dental implant treatment is a great solution.

The main advantages of implants are:

the results are permanent
they are highly esthetic
they are totally reliable
you’re able to chew normally again much quicker
there’s a lower risk of damage to adjacent teeth
an implant can be used as support for bridges and crowns
great value for money

The cost of implant treatment mainly depends on:

the type and number of implants
the type of prosthetic restoration
the necessity for additional treatments e.g. implanting artificial bone

A detailed estimate of the implant treatment is made during your appointment at the clinic. Implant treatment is a great investment that will give you a beautiful, full smile.

Why is it worth having implants?

Not only do missing teeth worsen your appearance, they also cause changes for the worse in your health::

a change in the position of your remaining teeth
a destabilization in the functioning of the temporomandibular joints
bone loss in the place where the tooth was lost
visible changes to your face

The chance of a range of complications makes implant treatment to replace your missing teeth worth considering.

Traditional prosthetic solutions can also be used in the tooth reconstruction; however, no bridges or crowns will ever come close to implants, because additional treatments often have to be carried out, and the final result will not be perfect. If you choose a crown or bridge, you need to be prepared for some uncomfortable tooth grinding, and in the case of dentures, the clamps are often visible, which spoils the overall effect and your own confidence.

Just two implants will hold a full denture in place, while for a full bridge at least six implants are required.

So who can have implant surgery? Most adults can afford this kind of treatment, but there are several conditions that need be met:

Completely developed and formed jaw bones
Good health, because chronic diseases such as diabetes can have a negative impact on whether the implant takes and on healing times
Normal, dense bone tissue, which will form the base for the implant

In many cases, even if there are contraindications, the procedure can be carried out. Therefore, various pre-implantation procedures are performed.

When making the decision to treat with implants, the dentist has to take the contraindications into account, which include:

an underdeveloped jaw
age
serious health issues
past transplants
medications taken e.g. antidepressants
certain mental illnesses
the presence of fibromas
abnormal bone structure

What are the recommendations immediately following the procedure?

If you want your implant to stay in your mouth for as long as possible, you really need to take care of hygiene. It’s best to work with a dentist who will advise you on how to take care of your new tooth. After the treatment you should not eat for at least two hours, and avoid smoking. You should return to gentle brushing as soon as possible, and you must use a disinfecting liquid, because impurities around the implant can cause inflammation, even leading to its rejection.

We mentioned smoking cigarettes for a reason, because smoking reduces the body’s ability for tissue regeneration and affects the formation of deposits, which may prevent a fresh implant from ‘taking’.