Dental Implants
Dental Implants: Forget removable dentures! Undoubtedly, over the past decades, dental science and its specialties have experienced rapid evolution. The simplification and effectiveness of local anesthesia, materials with improved properties, and continuously developing therapeutic techniques have led both to facilitating the dentist and to demystifying the “visit to the dentist” which for many patients is met with anxiety and fear.
Dental diseases (cavities, fractures) as well as the tissues around them (gingivitis, periodontitis) are the enemies of a healthy and complete set of teeth which, in combination with either neglect or wrong therapeutic choices, inevitably lead to their loss. Managing partial and/or total tooth loss is one of the most important chapters of dental science.
In this particular field, long-term research combined with high technology led to the introduction of dental implants in daily dental practice.
So let’s look at some frequently asked questions that will answer all your queries.
What is an implant?
It is a titanium metal screw that is placed in the jaw to support prosthetic work.In which cases is the use of implants recommended?
This depends on the patient’s needs. A single implant can serve to restore one missing tooth, thus avoiding the classic solution of a bridge which would burden the adjacent healthy teeth (Fig. 1-2).
Multiple implants together can replace more than one tooth, thus avoiding ending up with a removable denture, the “denture” known to all of us (Fig. 3-4). Hover your mouse over the images.
How new are dental implants? Is it still too early to trust them?
Modern implantology has more than 40 years of solid scientific and clinical evidence. It is now firmly established worldwide and has become a simple, everyday treatment option. Any remaining hesitation is mostly due to insufficient information and is steadily disappearing. Both patients and dentists now know that in most cases dental implants offer better and more predictable solutions than conventional treatments.We often hear about a “foreign body that the body may reject”. Is there a risk of rejection?
This is a well‑known misconception. The term “rejection” is used in organ transplants (liver, heart, etc.), where the human body may recognize the transplanted organ as “foreign”. Dental implants are made of titanium, which belongs to the group of “biocompatible” materials, meaning it can coexist with living tissues without causing complications. It is also well known that metallic materials (plates, screws, etc.) widely used in orthopaedic surgery for the treatment of fractures and joint replacements, long before dental implants appeared, are also made of titanium.Can this treatment be used for everyone?
Certain essential conditions must be met, related both to general health and to local factors. The patient should not suffer from serious uncontrolled systemic diseases, such as poorly controlled diabetes. A thorough medical history is therefore necessary. An adequate amount of jawbone is absolutely required, which is assessed with appropriate radiographic examinations. However, a wide range of techniques is now available to shape and improve the area where implants will be placed, and can be used in the majority of cases. Finally, heavy smoking and poor oral hygiene must definitely be addressed before placing implants.What guarantees are there for a prosthetic restoration on implants?
Provided that the implants are placed correctly by a qualified dentist (periodontist, implantologist, oral and maxillofacial surgeon), that the prosthetic teeth are designed to distribute the biting forces evenly, that the patient maintains a high level of oral hygiene and, finally, that there is at least annual clinical and radiographic follow‑up, the success rate is around 99% over a period of 8–10 years, as shown by modern scientific studies. Most failures today are associated with poor oral hygiene, contamination during the initial healing period, or incorrect prosthetic loading of the implant. In the majority of cases, it is possible to place a new implant in the same area where a problem has occurred.How soon can the teeth be fitted?
Depending on the individual case, a healing period of about 3 to 6 months is usually required for the implants to integrate with the jawbone. In cases involving multiple implants, the method of immediate loading has been successfully used over the last decade, allowing the patient to “wear” their new teeth within a few days after implant placement.Under what conditions is the procedure carried out? Is it painful?
Implants are placed in the dental office. Particular attention must be paid to strict aseptic conditions to avoid postoperative complications, and it is preferable to use a specially prepared surgical room. Local anaesthesia is administered, just as for a simple filling of a decayed tooth. In this way, and with the help of appropriate medication, we can promise that there will be no pain during the procedure and minimal discomfort afterwards.Do teeth supported by implants look different from natural teeth?
Absolutely not. The techniques and materials used today allow us to create restorations that are virtually identical to those placed on natural teeth (crowns, bridges), giving the appearance of healthy and attractive teeth.How does the cost of implants compare with more traditional solutions?
In absolute numbers, implants are more expensive than conventional solutions. However, this comparison is misleading because we are dealing with treatments that are fundamentally different. Conventional options often require the preparation and sacrifice of healthy teeth and may involve partial dentures (“removable plates”) and complete dentures (“false teeth”) that are psychologically and functionally uncomfortable, can move during chewing or speaking, and often feel unstable. In contrast, prosthetic work supported by dental implants is stable, functional, independent of neighbouring natural teeth and, in many cases, aesthetically superior to conventional prosthetic solutions. The absence of teeth and its consequences (reduced chewing ability, changes in speech, alteration of facial appearance, psychological burden on the patient) affect a large percentage of people. Dental implants are clearly the most advanced and effective solution offered by modern dentistry today, and every dentist has a responsibility to be informed and to inform their patients about them. Patients, either with the guidance of their general dentist or after their own research, should seek comprehensive information from a dentist specialized in implants and, knowing all possible options, make the treatment decisions that are right for them.The above text was published by Andreas Giannopoulos in the newspaper “Apogevmatini” on October 10, 2004.
