What is 3D implantology?
In order to understand what 3D implantology is, it is first necessary to talk about dental implants. These are titanium screws that serve as a substitute for tooth roots.
For this, they are anchored in the jaw or maxillary bone and, once the implant is attached to the bone, a metal-porcelain crown is placed on top of it. In this way, the patient can recover the lost tooth, allowing him to restore functionality and esthetics to his mouth.
3D implantology is performed with the most advanced technology, allowing even greater results and levels of satisfaction.
What does it consist of?
This test allows an impression of the teeth and subsequent implants to be made in 3D by means of an intraoral scanner. Thanks to this device it is possible to fabricate most of the restorations for dental prostheses.
In addition, CBCT (Cone Beam Computed Tomography) is also used, a device that allows 3D images of the structure of the patient’s skull to be obtained with almost no radiation. All this allows greater safety and comfort for the patient, as well as a more optimal clinical result. The sophistication of this system shows, depending on the quantity and quality of bone in each patient, the ideal position.
In this way, the patient can see an exact three-dimensional model of the mouth and even see a simulation of the operation on the computer. Once the necessary measurements have been taken with this system, a surgical template identical to the position of the implants is created, which serves as a guide for drilling the gum with a minimally invasive technique.
Preparation for 3D implantology
It does not require any preparation, since it is performed with minimally invasive surgery, which minimizes inflammation and bleeding, in addition to eliminating the postoperative discomfort.
All this favors the reduction of the operation time, as well as avoiding possible damage to delicate areas such as the maxillary sinus or the dental nerve.
Advances
In the past, the tooth was extracted and then the area was left to recover, which could take up to 8 months. Then, the implants were placed and another 6 months were waited to place the crowns on the implants. The whole procedure lasted between 12-18 months.
Today, however, it can all be done in a single day, as long as conditions permit. Generally, the titanium implant is placed in the same surgical procedure in which the damaged tooth is removed. In a few hours a provisional crown is placed, which will remain in the patient’s mouth until the osseointegration process is completed, which lasts about 2-3 months. This advance has allowed dental implant treatments to increase their success in up to 97% of cases.