Implantology is a branch in stomatology which allows the cure for the absence of teeth for patients reliably and qualitatively, which carries out the restoration of teeth on the basis of artificial roots (implants).
Implantology is the introduction into the organism of inorganic substitutes for the lost organs. In stomatology with the help of dental implants lost teeth are substituted. Such substitute is called an Implant.
During the recent decades of its existence there have appeared convincing facts that implantology of teeth is a safe and predictable method of treatment, which is being applied wider and wider year by year in the practice of the dentists.
What is an implant?
Dental intraosseous implant is the most wide-spread type of implants, used in the dental practice. Implant itself is a construction made of titanium alloy, which is inserted in the jaw bone to replace the tooth root. Implant is attached to the bone firmly and doesn’t cause any reaction or rejection. It contains a supporting head (abutment), which is fixed with screws. On the abutment there is screwed a crown or another type of prosthesis. Prostheses on implants look as natural as natural teeth.
Medical contraindications to the implantation.
There are absolute and relative contraindications to the dental implantation.
Absolute contraindications: a recent myocardial infarction or stroke, unstable angina, high uncontrolled high blood pressure, decompensated diabetes mellitus, severe illnesses of thyroid, blood coagulation disorder, epilepsy, immune deficient states, the period of active therapy of oncological diseases (cancer), severe infections, mental disorders. There can’t be any implantation in such physiological conditions as pregnancy and skeletal growth.
Relative contraindications: osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus, thyroid diseases in the stage of compensation, cardiovascular diseases that are under control, etc.
In the case of relative contraindications implantation is done after medical examination and special preparation. The actions of implantological brigade in case of such patients are directed to prevent aggravation and decompensation of the existing diseases in the period of implantological treatment.
It should be noted that in case of patients with compensated common diseases, particularly diabetes mellitus, with careful preparation of the patient to the implantation the implants are functioning successfully in 86-94% of cases.
What is necessary for success?
- To tell the doctor in detail the history of their diseases.
- To point all the cases of allergic and unusual reactions to drugs.
- To produce all the necessary analyses for the treatment and discharges from outpatient and stationary cards and the results of medical inspections, which you have passed recently. Carefully read and follow the recommendations of the doctor.
- To ask all the questions interesting you before the operation.
- To clean the teeth and implants efficiently every day.
- To come to the control examinations within the terms, appointed by the doctor.
- To visit the doctor immediately when finding any kind of deviation and changes in feelings connected with the implants and the prostheses on implants.
- To inform the doctor about the changes in the condition and situation in the orall cavity.
- Do not expose teeth and prostheses on implants to excessive load.
The advantages of implantation
- It is known that long-time absence of teeth causes bone atrophy. Implants give the opportunity to save the jawbone and avoid deformation of oval of face. The proper load distribution in the act of chewing makes it possible to maintain the level of the bone tissue.
- Opportunity to restore a lost tooth, without grinding the adjacent teeth. The adjacent teeth stay alive.
- Opportunity to place non-removable prosthesis in absence of several teeth- the implant will stand for the basis.
- Implants give an opportunity of making a prosthetic appliance of wholly toothless jaw with more convenient fixed constructions. You will get rid of inconvenient removable prostheses forever!
- The implant solves the problem of not only the missing teeth, but also removes the extra load on the adjacent teeth and therefore saves them.
- The new artificial tooth feels like, functions and looks like a natural healthy tooth.
Saving the jaw bone
After the removal of teeth jaw bone significantly decreases in volume (atrophy). During the first year there is loss of 25% of bone tissue in the tooth extraction, and in the next three or four years the bone tissue is reduced by 50% of its original volume. As a result of this process the positions of the remaining teeth and bite change. If teeth are lost, the face gets an old-looking expression. Traditional prostheses don’t stop the loss of bone tissue. Moreover, the usage of removable prostheses leads to further loss of jaw bone. After installing implants the loss of the bone tissue stops.
Implants serve more than crowns and bridges
The results of prosthetics with traditional bridges and crowns are not so good. Scientists calculated that 75% of crowns and bridges, based on “their†teeth, successfully overpass the five-year term. After it, 27% of prostheses need to be replaced anew. 15-50% of teeth under crowns have necrotic pulp. Practice shows that some teeth, serving as a base for removable prostheses, are to be removed.
Statistics on the success of prostheses on implants is more hopeful. More than 90% of prostheses on implants function successfully during 10 years. Time of service of implants is unlimited.
When losing an implant, new one can be placed instead?
If for any reason you have lost an implant, after a certain period there can be replaced a new one. If the patient loses the tooth under the denture base, so the prosthesis must be replaced and more teeth will be involved in the production of non-removable prostheses. Losing an implant you do not risk the health of neighbouring teeth. Besides, if there will be a breakage of prosthesis or its components, the dentist can remove the old prosthesis and repair it. It is impossible to remove the non-removable prosthesis without damaging it.
Prosthetics on implants
Non-removable or removable prostheses are placed on implants. To non-removable prostheses refer crowns, bridges and the so-called conditionally-removable prostheses, that patient can’t remove himself, but if necessary, the dentist can set it again. Crowns and bridges on implants are made with a small loss of bone tissue of the patient. If there is a big loss of bone tissue, so the prostheses should replace not only teeth, but also the missing parts of gums.
The procedure of implantation step by step
Implantation is usually done under local anesthesia and is well tolerated by patients. If necessary it is preceded by a special medical preparation, which helps you tolerate the intervention better. Implantation is carried out in complete sterility and usage of modern equipments. If you follow the doctor’s postsurgical recommendations, you’ll avoid further complications.
- I step
Implant is set in the bone. For its engraftment certain time will be needed. For the upper jaw it will take 2-6 months, for the lower jaw it will take 2-4 months. These terms depend on the bone density. At this stage implants may be located under the gum. During the engraftment of implants the missing tooth or teeth may be replaced by temporary prostheses.
- II step
After engraftment of the implant to the bone, а shaper is placed on it, around which gums form. At this stage if necessary gingival plastic is held for creating dense and nice gum around the implant.
After setting the shaper it’s necessary to remove plague accumulation from it regularly.
To improve hygienic care of the implants a hygienist help.
- III step
Shaper of gums is removed, and prosthetic construction is placed instead. If at the beginning of prosthetics the bone, surrounding the implant is still immature, so temporary prostheses are produced for the progressive load on the implant. Later, after maturation of bone tissue under load, the temporary prostheses are replaced by the permanent ones. After finishing up with the prostheses, the orthopaedic doctor or the hygienist will surely explain you how to care for prosthesis and implants, will make a schedule of visits and will appoint the date of next inspection.
Which system of implants do we work with?
In the our Dental Medical Clinic we use the Nobel’s ALPHA BIO system of implants. The Israeli company Alpha Bio offers a wide range of dental implants, which allows us to solve various clinical problems. All implants of Alpha Bio are produced from high quality titanium, which meets international standards, and have advanced SLA-cover. The surface of implant is worked up twice. First Acid passivation is performed, due to which big “roughness†appears, then the bombing of the particles of titanium, which results more significant irregularities. Due to the two-stage process, the implants of Alpha Bio acquire relief controlled by a special texture and porosity. The shape and size of pores are calculated in such a way as to create optimal conditions for the penetration and retention of biological particles of blood, responsible for the formation of bone tissue.