Dental implants

Quality of life recovered thanks to dental implants

Why implants?

"The effective replacement of lost teeth has always been one of the essential concerns in dentistry.

Furthermore, research has made spectacular progress during the last few decades (techniques and materials).

What happens when we lose our teeth?"

Before

After

 

Morphological evolution and face transformation in an edentulous person over a twenty-five-year period

When the teeth are extracted, there is also a significant loss of the bone material which keeps the teeth in place. In fact, once the teeth have been removed, the bone surrounding them will be quickly resorbed and lose its volume.

That is the reason why edentulous people seem to age faster than others (their lips sink and their chin becomes more pronounced pointing towards the nose).

Dental implant action

Can dental implants fulfill the role of natural teeth?

Dental implants are integrated into the bone and reproduce the action of tooth roots. In addition to ensuring perfect stability for a fixed or removable prosthesis, the implant once again stimulates bone cells, which then cease to atrophy. The jawbone can consequently maintain its volume and integrity.

But, in fact, what is a dental implant?

It is an artificial root made of pure titanium which has the capacity to join your existing bone in a natural way. Implants are placed at the level of your jawbone and after a few months' healing, they can replace your natural roots and hold a fixed or partial denture, or even a single crown.

 
 

Different types of fixed prostheses on implants

Implant to replace a single root:

Implants to replace a group of teeth:

FIRST CASE

Before

Dental implants

After

Dental implants
SECOND CASE

Before

Dental implants

After

Dental implants

THIRD CASE

Dental implants

Dental implants

Implants to fit an upper partial denture

Dental implants

Implants to fit a lower partial denture

Solutions for life

"Dental implants have allowed a huge number of people to rediscover the pleasure of tasting food, smiling, speaking, and practising certain sports without having to worry about their prostheses.

The perfect stability of prostheses, which release the palate, makes it possible to rediscover the taste of food while simultaneously enjoying comfort in every circumstance of life"

Some answers to your questions

What is the lifespan of dental implants?

Thanks to the surgeon's experience, your implants will be placed in the best possible conditions, and they should last for a lifetime (crowns can be changed every 10 years).

That will largely depend on the attention and hygiene that you give to your mouth; these two aspects form part of the treatment.

Does my health condition allow me to have implants fitted?

You have to answer a medical questionnaire and consult your general practitioner if necessary. You should know that people of all ages can undergo this intervention without any problem whatsoever.

Are these interventions painful?

Patients are nicely surprised by the intervention's development and post-operative. They only need to take their prescribed painkillers and antibiotics properly. And the intervention is performed under a local anaesthetic.

Do prostheses on implants need special maintenance?

They require the same care that needs to be given to your natural teeth.

It will be necessary for you to come and have regular check-ups.

How long will the treatment take?

The treatment depends on the condition of the gum and the bone. A radiological examination with a scanner and an ortopantomography will permit to choose one of the following two techniques:

  • Implant in one step:
    Simultaneous fitting of the implant/s and the crown/s.
  • Implant in two steps:
    First, fitting of the implant/s. Then, it will be necessary to wait between 3 and 6 months for bone healing and implant osteointegration. The patient will wear a provisional prosthesis for front complete edentations during that period.

What material are my fixed crowns made of?

We have CAD-CAM ZIRCONZAHN equipment in our dental institute, and your crowns will be made of zirconium. Please see the Dental Aesthetics and CAD-CAM section on this site. Detailed information about the qualities of zirconium will be provided to you.

If I have not enough bone on the upper jaw, can I have implants fitted all the same?

Sinus filling

Bone volume increase pre-implant surgery will be necessary if bone volume proves insufficient to place implants. This situation is due to the presence at that level of a maxillary sinus, which is a cavity filled with air from both sides of the nasal cavities. Consequently, the fitting of implants at that level often requires making a graft, which consists in filling the sinus bottom through a bone graft. It is undoubtedly the most common pre-implant surgical intervention. A local anaesthetic suffices and the intervention will only take three quarters of an hour.

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