Dental Implants
What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is a prosthesis that interfaces with the bone of the jaw to support a dental prosthesis such as a crown, bridge and denture. The basis for modern dental implants is a biologic process called osseointegration, in which materials such as titanium or zirconia form an intimate bond to bone. The implant fixture is first placed so that it is likely to osseointegrate, then a dental prosthesis is added. A variable amount of healing time is required for osseointegration before either the dental prosthetic (a tooth, bridge or denture) is attached to the implant or an abutment is placed which will hold a dental prosthesis/crown
Success rate of a dental implant
Unlike dentures or a bridge, dental implants are permanent fixtures in your mouth and are designed to last your lifetime. Because they're so durable, the success rate of dental implants is as high as 98%.
How many implants do I need?
If you’ve only lost one tooth, then you’ll only need one implant to replace your missing tooth. If, on the other hand, you have a few missing teeth, you won’t necessarily need an implant for each one. Dental bridges can be used to bridge the gap between implants.
However, you’ll need to consult your implant dentist to find out what option is best for you. Your dentist will need to find out if you have enough bone structure in your jaw to support any implants you require. If you don’t have enough bone density, that doesn’t make the procedure impossible, but it does make it more complicated. You may be offered bone grafting as a preliminary procedure to replace and regenerate the lost bone.
Do you need Dental Implants?
What if I Need to Replace All My Teeth?
If you’re missing a full arch of teeth, you are probably pretty self-conscious about your smile. And, if you’ve got dentures, you may worry whenever you eat, laugh or talk in case they slip out, and they may be far from comfortable. Fortunately, dental implants can be used to replace a whole arch of teeth.
The number of implants you’ll need will depend on the amount of bone density in your jaw and its overall quality. On average, you’ll need up to ten implants to support a full arch of teeth using traditional dental implants. If you don’t have the bone density needed to support that volume of implants, you may be looking at additional procedures before you can have implants placed. However, it doesn’t have to be that way.
The All on 4 technique has revolutionised dental implants for all teeth, so it’s possible to replace a full arch with only four implants.
Advantages of Dental Implants
How long does a dental implant last?
With regular brushing and flossing, the implant itself can last a lifetime, assuming the patient receives regular dental check-ups and hygiene clean every 6 months. The crown, however, usually only lasts about 10 to 15 years before it may need a replacement due to wear and tear.
A dental implant is a permanent solution for missing teeth and is now the preferred tooth-replacement option among patients and dentists. A dental implant completely replaces a natural tooth and can be used to bite and chew without slipping as can occur with dentures. And unlike dentures, implants are permanently placed, meaning that all cleaning — brushing twice daily and flossing — is done alongside your natural teeth. Because they are attached to the interior jawbone, implants don’t put strain on neighbouring teeth as dental bridges tend to do and don’t require any special steps to clean.
Because they are attached to the interior jawbone, implants don’t put strain on neighbouring teeth as dental bridges tend to do and don’t require any special steps to clean.
Types of dental implants
What to know before getting dental implants?
• Consider the Costs. • Learn the Procedure. • Check the Doctor's Qualifications • Know the Pros and Cons. • Pick the Right Type. • Have Enough Bone. • Improve Dental Health.
Who can get a dental implant?
Γενικά, τα οδοντικά εμφυτεύματα μπορεί να είναι κατάλληλα εάν:
Do you need Dental Implants?
The process of placing a dental implant
The process of placing a dental implant involves multiple steps, including: • Damaged tooth removal. • Jawbone preparation (grafting), when needed. • Dental implant placement. • Bone growth and healing. • Abutment placement. • Artificial tooth placement.
How long does it take to get an implant put in?
The procedure itself takes 1 to 2 hours and the healing time is 3 to 6 months. During this time the titanium alloy (the same material used in joint replacement) implant will heal around and merge with the surrounding bone tissue
How painful is it to have dental implants?
A straightforward dental implant, for a patient with good bones and who does not need a lot of soft tissue surgery, has a pain level between two and three in the first 24 to 48 hours, which means that prescribed medication such antibiotics and ant inflammatory tablets will take care of any discomfort they are feeling
Risks and complications
Placement of dental implants is a surgical procedure and carries the normal risks of surgery including infection, excessive bleeding and necrosis of the flap of tissue around the implant. Nearby anatomic structures, such as the inferior alveolar nerve, the maxillary sinus and blood vessels, can also be injured when the osteotomy is created or the implant placed. Even when the lining of the maxillary sinus is perforated by an implant, long term sinusitis is rare. An inability to place the implant in bone to provide stability of the implant (referred to as primary stability of the implant) increases the risk of failure to osseointegration.
Conditions and factors contributing to implant health
Factors Implant related
- Previous history of failure
- Surface roughness
- Surface purity and sterility
- Fitness discrepancies
- Exposure of implant into oral environment
Mechanical factors
- Premature loading
- Occlusion trauma
- Dense hypovascular traumatized bone
Patient (local factors)
- Oral hygiene status
- Gingivitis/periodontitis
- Quantity and quality of adjacent bone
- Natural teeth proximity
- Periodontal status of natural teeth
Patient (systemic factors)
- Habits such as smoking, alcoholism
- Prone to infection such as old age,
- Diabetes
- Steroid therapy
- Chemotherapy/radiotherapy
- Hypersensitivity
- Surgical technique/environment
- Traumatic surgical procedure
- Overheating of surrounding bone due to handpiece
Contact Us
Your dentist in Glyfada, Maria Lalousi is here to treat all your dental needs with an appointment. You can find us by calling us in +30 211 416 7676. Find more by clicking the button below.
