Dental implant

Dental implants replace missing tooth roots. Once the dental implant is firmly anchored in the bone, it can be loaded with the planned dental prosthesis. If there is insufficient bone available, bone augmentation can be considered. Therefore, there are no hopeless cases.

Basically, there are three areas of indication where dental implants prove to be incredibly useful:

• Single tooth gaps: If only a single tooth is missing, it can be replaced in a harmless way with an implant, without having to make a bridge and therefore damaging the neighboring teeth.
• multiple tooth gaps and free-end gaps: If too many teeth have been lost and therefore a fixed dental prosthesis is not feasible, implants can be used to help, create further pillars and thus produce a fixed bridge. In some cases, removable Partial dentures can also be stabilized with implants.
• edentulous jaw: Full dentures in an edentulous jaw often do not find sufficient hold. With four implants (connected with a bar or other constructions), the stability of the prosthesis can be significantly improved and its utility value increased.

Implanting is a routine procedure today. The implantation must, of course, be preceded by the restoration of the oral cavity and thorough planning. Among other techniques, the so-called two-phase procedure is usually preferred:

• During the first (surgical) phase, the dental implant is inserted into the jawbone.
• Afterwards, a healing period of 3-6 months (depending on the respective bone conditions) must be strictly observed.
• During the second (prosthetic) phase, the abutment is connected to the implant and the dental prosthesis is completed.

The simple answer is: almost everyone. However, some important basic requirements must be met:

• Severe chronic diseases such as leukemia, rheumatic diseases, persistent immune system disorders, osteoporosis, or uncontrolled diabetes exclude implantation.
• Implantation is also not recommended for those regularly taking blood thinners, steroids, immunosuppressants, and cytostatics.
• Severe alcohol, nicotine, and drug addiction significantly worsen the chances of success, so in such cases, implantation is generally discouraged.
• Another requirement is a well-restored, preferably inflammation-free mouth. Without satisfactory personal oral hygiene, regular check-ups, and possible follow-up care, long-term success cannot be guaranteed.

If bone loss has progressed so far that an implant cannot be inserted, bone augmentation is used. A bone substitute material is placed on the bone ridge, which is later broken down by the body and replaced by the body's own bone. This procedure can be performed either as a pre-treatment or simultaneously with the implantation.