Dental implants are indicated in any situation of tooth loss. We could say that it is the most recommended treatment to replace individual teeth or to hold complete dentures. In addition, we can use them at any age, there is no limit in that sense.
Osseointegrated implants treatment
Treatment with osseointegrated implants involves two phases. Firstly, the surgical phase, consisting of the placement of the implants. It is normally performed in the dental office itself, using local anesthesia, the same anesthesia we use for, for example, placing a filling, in one or two sessions depending on the implants to be placed.
Before proceeding to the next phase of treatment, a healing period is necessary, during which the “osseointegration” of the implants is completed; this period normally ranges from 3 weeks to 3 months, depending on the quality of the bone, during which time a temporary prosthesis can be worn. In some situations, it is possible to place a temporary fixed prosthesis on the implants on the same day of surgery, without respecting the osseointegration period; this is called “immediate loading”, or “teeth in one day”.
Once osseointegration is complete, the prosthetic phase begins, during which certain records are taken in the mouth, in some cases requiring the performance of certain tests. At the end of this phase, after about one month, the teeth are placed on the implants.
The implants are placed painlessly, handling the bone very carefully. The entire treatment process is very thorough. The procedure itself is much better tolerated, for example, than the extraction of a wisdom tooth; some swelling can be expected, which will vary from patient to patient. In general, painkillers are not usually necessary for more than two or three days.
Duration of osseointegrated implants
Statistically, implants can be maintained for the rest of the patient’s life. The success rate is very high, depending on the previous characteristics of each case. Some situations present more risk, such as the presence of habits like bruxism (teeth grinding that cause them to wear down), smoking, or poor oral hygiene. In general, the prosthesis on implants will behave in a similar way to a prosthesis on natural teeth and its longevity is generally greater.
Prior to implant placement
There are several types of implants, the vast majority of which have not undergone any clinical analysis. It is therefore very important to use a reliable implant system with long-term experience.
In addition, when planning an implant treatment, several parameters must be considered, especially the characteristics of the bone. The correct interpretation of all factors will result in an individual prognosis for each person.
Using reliable and proven materials and carefully assessing the clinical conditions of each case are the keys to successful treatment.