What are implants?

An implant can be compared to an artificial root that is placed in the jaw as a screw.

This comes at the place where the root of your former tooth or molar was.

An implant is often made of pure titanium with or without a ceramic outer layer.

These materials are not rejected by the body. An implant has a diameter of about four millimeters and is ten to sixteen millimeters long.

An implant is placed in the jaw under local anesthesia.

If an implant is properly grown with the jaw bone after a while, the body part (abutment) can be screwed on.

A crown, bridge or snap prosthesis can be made on one or more implants.

We work with highly qualified implants imported from Sweden (Astra tech) and Germany (Bego).

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What are implants used for?
Implants or artificial roots are used to replace a single tooth or a number of teeth or molars. For example, a crown or bridge can be made to replace lost teeth or molars or a denture can be placed over the implants in order to create more grip. Implants are a good solution for people who have problems wearing normal dentures. People who miss a tooth can also benefit from an implant.

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When can implants be placed?

In principle, an implant can be placed with everyone in whom the jawbone is fully grown.

Some conditions are required to make the implants a success:

To place implants, there must be enough jaw bone.
The jaw bone must also be healthy.
Implants can be placed where the patient no longer has his own teeth.
Before an implant can be inserted, it must also be checked whether the gums around the own teeth and teeth are healthy.

If that is not the case, then it must first be made healthy.
Good oral hygiene is required. You must be prepared to properly maintain the implants and the crown, bridge or prosthesis attached to them.
The success rate of implants in non-smokers is higher than in smokers.

 

How does the placement of implants work?

Implants are applied in local anesthesia.

Sometimes medication is given or prescribed 1 hour before the procedure. This can be a rinse aid, pain relief or antibiotics.

The treatment lasts on average 1 to 2 hours.

An opening is made in the gums so that the dental surgeon can reach the bone. Often it is necessary for the bone to be smoothed beforehand. Then the place is determined where the implants must come. Subsequently, a shaft is made in the bone with various drill bits.

In special cases, a surgical jig is required for this purpose, which precisely determines the location and direction of the implants.

The implant can then be used, usually, it is screwed and sometimes tapped.

Then the wound is sutured.

You will usually receive a prescription for rinse aid and pain relief.

How does the healing work?

The first days you will get swelling of the wound area. You will also get a napkin; for this, you can use the painkiller prescribed by your dental surgeon. It is important that you thoroughly clean the mouth and also the wound area.

You can just brush your teeth, a bit careful with the wound. The flushing agent must also be used.

Usually, you will get a check appointment 1 week after the treatment.

This can tell your therapist for the treatment. The implant should now grow in the jaw. This takes an average of 3 months.

This period is determined by your practitioner and depends among other things on the quality of the bone.

After this period the crown, bridge or prosthesis can be placed.

 

How successful are implants?

If enough bone of good quality is present, implants, especially in the lower jaw, are successful in more than 95% of cases.

If an insufficient bone is present and therefore bone has to be applied, the success percentage is lower.

It has also been shown that the success rate in smokers is significantly less.

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After objections and risks?

The treatment itself may be uncomfortable, but not painful. The cloves are usually limited and last a few days, a maximum of one week.

They can consist of a painful wound area in the mouth, some swelling, possibly a bruise. Sometimes the feeling changes in the lip or chin. Usually, this is temporary, but in exceptional cases it is permanent. You can use the prescribed painkillers after the procedure.

When can the implant be loaded?
Before the implants can be loaded, they must first be sufficiently grown.

Depending on the quality of the bone, a period of 3 months is maintained in the lower jaw for up to 6 months in the maxilla.

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When will the new dental prosthesis be made?

If you wear a temporary plate prosthesis to replace a front tooth, the practitioner can adjust the plate so that it can be worn again after a few days.

Of course, it is important that the jaw bone has the opportunity to grow with the implant. Too much pressure disturbs this process of healing!

After fitting the implants, the prosthesis must be let out for a number of days. Hereafter the denture is temporarily adjusted.

The upper prosthesis can then be used and worn to a limited extent. You should at least let out the existing prosthesis at night!

The new prosthesis can only be made after the implants have grown sufficiently.

Depending on the quality of the bone, a period of 3 months is maintained for this.

 

Prognosis and aftercare?

No medical intervention and that also applies to treatment with implants, is complete without risk.

Fortunately, the prognosis of treatment with implants is usually good.

In a limited number of cases, however, an implant does not grow well or is released over time. The implant must then be removed.

The lifespan of implants depends, among other things, on the quantity, the type of jaw bone, the size of the chewing forces and oral hygiene.

Moreover, it appears that smoking is not only bad for your health, but also for the life span of implants.

The prosthesis, frame, and implants must be checked regularly.

The click bite is not stuck in the mouth; it is removable and needs to be cleaned twice a day.