Dental implants are used for more than 60 years as a replacement of missing teeth. A dental implant is a surgical fixture that is placed into the jawbone and allowed to fuse with the bone over the span of a few months. The process of fusion between the dental implant and jawbone is called “osseointegration.” Osseointegrated dental implant is the closest thing to mimicking a natural tooth because it stands on its own without affecting the nearby teeth and has great stability. Most dental implants are made of titanium or its alloys, which allows them to integrate with bone without being recognized as a foreign object in our body. There are some manufacturers who produce ceramic implants. Today, thanks to the great progress of science and technology in the field the success rate for dental implants is close to 98%.
Procedure
Dental implant treatment requires precise planning. A CBCT 3D scan is performed prior the implant placement to assess the density of the jawbone and the relations to the adjacent anatomical structures (mandible nerve, maxillary sinus, neighboring teeth). For each case the most appropriate implant (length and diameter) is chosen according to the scan. The surgical procedure of placing the implant includes administering local anesthetic, incision of the gum, drilling the bone, placing the implant and suturing the gum. After the period of osseointegration a healing abutment is placed for about two weeks time to allow the soft tissue to form around it. Then a permanent abutment is fixed and the planned prosthetic construction (crown, bridge or denture) is placed. Thorough oral hygiene is required for perfect long term result.
