Implant treatment is an intervention that aims to place materials that can fulfill the functions of missing teeth into the cavities in the mouth. Implants made of titanium are placed in the mouth by a specialist physician and covered with a prosthesis after a certain time. Thanks to new technologies, this process can be completed in one go or it can continue for a period of 3 or 6 months. Implant treatment provides a serious advantage for those who have lost their teeth and therefore have both aesthetic and oral problems.
What is an implant and why is it used?
Contrary to popular belief, a missing tooth does not only cause chewing problems or aesthetic concerns. In addition, deterioration of the jaw structure, crookedness, gum diseases and stomach problems can also occur due to missing teeth. Those who do not want to encounter such problems can have an implant application instead of the empty tooth roots.
An implant is an artificial material that replaces the root of the tooth. The implant, which has the appearance of a screw and is made of titanium, is easily accepted by the body as it does not carry a living organism. There is no question of the body rejecting the artificial tooth root that is added later. People who have lost their teeth for various reasons, thanks to this application, get rid of the problems that disturb them psychologically.
Is Implant Treatment Applicable to Everyone?
The physician decides whether the patient is suitable for the thread screwing procedure. Although there is no limitation in age, the completion of the development of the mouth and jaw structure is important in terms of successful results of the application. For this reason, in individuals under the age of 17-18, implantation can only be decided after a developmental examination by the physician. The ongoing diseases, treatments and bad habits of the people may also prevent the treatment. We can list some of them as follows:
- Radiotherapy taken to cover the head and neck region
- Excessive alcohol and cigarette use
- Uncontrolled systemic diseases
Those who hesitate to have implants due to their diseases should first consult their physician. If necessary, consultation should be made between the dentist and the doctor following the treatment of diseases. Although bone resorption is one of the conditions that prevent implantation, patients with such problems can also be implanted by physicians with sufficient experience. Artificial bone can be obtained by using techniques such as sinus lift, split osteotomy, and block bone formation.
What are the Stages of Implant Treatments?
The implant treatment process begins with the advice of a physician or at the patient’s own request. In the first place, the condition of the teeth is examined by the physician. Taking advantage of dental tomography technology at this stage has an important role in the successful outcome of implant application. Undetectable by two-dimensional devices; bone thickness, cyst formation or overlapping teeth can be easily understood by tomography. The dimensions of the implant are determined in the most accurate way as a result of tomography. Thus, the patient’s implant is both suitable for his needs and an aesthetic appearance appears when the coating phase is completed.
Placing the Implant
Implant surgery is performed under local or full anesthesia. The part where the implant specially prepared for the patient will be applied is carved at the appropriate depth. Then, after the material placed in its place is screwed, it is covered with gingiva and sutured. In the next stage, it is necessary to wait for bone integration.
The process of integration of the implant with the bone is 3 months. If advanced surgical techniques (such as sinus lift, ridge split, bone augmentation) are applied, the time required for the bone grafts applied to the area to fuse with the bone is longer. Depending on the technique applied and the bone graft used, this period may be 4-8 months. During the fusion process of the implants with the bone, it is important for the patient to pay attention to oral hygiene, to restrict smoking, to prevent infection in the operation area and for the integration process to take place successfully.
Integration period may take between 2 months and 6 months depending on the patient’s bone structure, bad habits or attention to oral health. In this process, the physician performs periodic checks and, if necessary, uses dental tomography technology to check the condition of the implant.
Immediate Implantation
Tooth extraction and implant can be made at the same time. In patients who are implanted at the same time, the implant socket should be prepared together with the drilling process. The advantage of immediate implantation is Dr. Hilal Selamet explains it as follows:
“After tooth extraction, bone resorption begins. If we place the implant directly and apply bone graft between it and the tooth extraction socket, we will prevent bone resorption and therefore gum recession. If there is no acute infection, I definitely prefer immediate implantation.”
Prosthesis Stages
After the required waiting times are completed, the prosthesis stage on the implant is started. Before the impression taking, x-rays are taken, the implants are checked, the healing caps are attached and the impression is taken 3-7 days later. A healing cap is attached for impression taking. This cap will not be removed for a period of 3 to 7 days. When this period is completed, the prosthesis preparation is started by taking the measurement. Depending on the material chosen for the prosthesis stages (metal supported porcelain or zirconium), metal or zirconium rehearsal is done first. Then the porcelain is rehearsed. Then all the deficiencies are eliminated and polishing and bonding is done. After the rehearsal examination, the prosthesis is placed in the mouth.
Fixed Prostheses
Those who have fixed dentures can use their new prosthesis comfortably as they use their own teeth, thanks to the applications performed by a specialist with the help of dental tomography. In order for your new teeth to display an aesthetic stance and not to cause discomfort in your mouth, you should follow all the recommendations given by your physician and have the extra operations recommended when necessary. In this way, the prosthesis you will use will be no different from your own tooth.
Removable Prostheses
The removable denture can be easily attached and removed by the patient. It should be decided together with the physician whether a removable or fixed prosthesis will be made after the implant. . Generally, removable prostheses are preferred in cases where bone loss is high and this loss may cause different problems or if the relations between the jaws do not allow fixed prosthesis to be made. Removable prostheses offer a very comfortable use just like fixed prostheses. Patients who have removable dentures on implants should remove their dentures every day and clean them. You should not sleep with dentures at night.
All On Four Implant Technique
In patients who have lost all of their teeth for various reasons; The technique that allows the placement of both the implant and the prosthesis in the same day is called All On Four. Those who cannot use removable dentures or suffer from nausea due to removable dentures should take advantage of this technique. Specialist dentists recommend the All On Four method for those with advanced bone loss and elderly patients.
During the All On Four implant, there is no need for further surgical procedures in the sinus cavities located at the back of the upper jaw. At the same time, All On Four is preferred to avoid the mandibular nerve in the lower jaw. Patients who benefit from this technique should have dentures cleaned once a year. During cleaning, the dentures are removed.
Does Pain Occur After Implant Treatment?
The question of whether there will be pain after the implant is wondered by those who are considering the application. During the procedure, the patient does not feel any pain as he is under anesthesia. It is normal to feel a mild pain due to the surgical procedure performed after the effects of the anesthesia wear off. Medications given by the physician should be used to reduce the effects of pain and prevent infection, and care recommendations should be strictly followed.
Things to Consider After Implant Treatment
It is necessary to be careful about some issues such as nutrition and oral hygiene after implant treatment. Nothing should be eaten in the first two hours after the operation. In addition, you should avoid consuming extremely hot or cold foods, especially in the first week. On the first day, you should not spit or rinse your mouth in order not to adversely affect the healing process. You should also not smoke or drink alcohol.
It’s a good idea to wait a day to start brushing your teeth. Three days after the procedure, you should gargle with salt water or products recommended by your doctor. After the mouthwash, which should be done twice a day, you should not eat or drink anything for at least half an hour. It is also important to floss regularly so that food residues do not accumulate at the junction of the prosthesis and gum. Of course, you should avoid hard movements while doing this.
You can also choose DentaVina Dental Clinic for implants and prostheses that you can use easily and you can complete your treatment without any problems thanks to specialist physicians.
