Dental implants are devices that are anchored to the jaw bone to replace teeth that have been lost. Even in ancient times, screws were used to replace tooth roots, but it was not until the 1980s that the Swedish orthopedic surgeon P. I. Branemark discovered the phenomenon of osseointegration. This phenomenon is defined as the property of titanium and other materials to establish a firm and lasting bond with the bone. Thus, the implant is not simply a screw, but its union with the bone depends on the adhesion of the bone tissue to the titanium from which it is made.
What does the quality of the implant depend on?
The factors on which a good implant depends are the design, the quality of the material and its surface treatment. In addition, the surgical technique of installation and local factors, mainly bone health, oral hygiene, prosthetic design, etc., must also be taken into account.
What are the results?
Osseointegration is achieved in 98% of cases. The remaining percentage is known as “rejection” and in this case the implant is removed, the patient waits a few weeks and the treatment can be performed again.
The function of the implants is to hold a dental prosthesis. In some cases, the implant can be used to replace a tooth, in other cases to rehabilitate a section of several teeth or even, in the most severe cases, to replace an entire arch.
Planning is essential for patient comfort and safety. In addition, local anesthesia is used on an outpatient basis. In more complex cases, intravenous sedation is often used.
The importance of choosing the right equipment
Implantology in a good hospital allows us to deal with even the most complex cases, those that require grafts, in people with health problems or patients who are always looking for the highest quality and guarantee of treatments.
In some cases, the placement of implants is not possible if there is a lack of bone crest or problems with the gum. In this type of patients it is necessary to use grafting techniques to recover the lost tissues and the shape of the gum. This requires a multidisciplinary team that is an expert in implants.
The maxillofacial surgery and implantology service of Hospital Quirón Barcelona has great experience and recognition in these advanced techniques such as sinus lift, onlay bone grafts, zygomatic and pterygoid implants, computer-guided surgery, laser surgery and piezoelectric osteotomes.