The placement of dental implants has been demonstrated the best way modern dentistry has to offer to replace missing teeth.
The reason why implants also are so popular is because they present success rates above 90 to 95%, statistics that no other dental treatment can compare to. The approx. 5 to 10% of failures can be related to patients that smoke, uncontrolled diabetics, present multiple health issues and take multiple medications.
Dental Implant Materials:
Titanium: Original Implant material, is highly biocompatible and the one that is also commonly used in orthopedics to replace knees, shoulders and reconstruct other parts of the body.
Ceramic: placed when there is a need to eliminate metal from the body. The name of the ceramic is Zirconia, which provides a similar strength of metal. Has been under clinical research for the last 10 years.
It entitles a process of two phases:
Implant placement:
A titanium (same material used in orthopedics and highly biocompatible) rod, also called implant body, is placed inside the bone replacing the root of the missing tooth, a process in which the bone grows around the rod or implant takes a couple of months. After that period of time is viable to move into the next phase of the treatment. Takes 1 visit and 1 or 2 follow ups.
Fabrication and Delivering of an Implant Supported Crown:
The process is similar to fabricating a tooth supported tooth, a mold of your mouth is taken and sent to the lab. After a few days the crown can be screwed into the implant. This process can also take 1 business week.
Implant Restoration Options:
(types of teeth than can be supported by the actual implants)
When there is a multiple amount of missing teeth, we have different options to restore the function and esthetics:
Single implant, replacing one tooth
Overdenture retained with 2 implants:
Removable denture with retention on the front area .
Overdenture retained with 4 implants
Removable denture with retention on the front and back of the mouth, therefore providing higher stability and retention.
Hybrid denture
Horseshoe shaped single structure that is screwed into the implants, its removed every 6 months by the dentist during cleaning procedures.
Implant supported bridges
permanently cemented on top of the implants. the most comfortable and long lasting option because higiene is easier and therefore more predictable!
Each of these options requires different processes, therefore the amount of trips and length of stays depends on the specifics of each case.
