Single Unit Implants

An implant is an excellent way to replace a missing tooth and keep a good-looking smile. A dental implant is a small titanium cylinder that’s surgically inserted into the bone of the jaw to replace the root of a missing tooth. An artificial tooth is attached to the implant.

Placing a dental implant after a tooth’s been lost can prevent a chain reaction of problems that could affect the entire mouth. When a tooth is lost, it changes the biting forces on the teeth next to the space, causing them to shift. When a tooth no longer has anything to chew against, it begins to extrude out of the socket. You can eventually end up losing that tooth, as well.

As your bite changes, it becomes increasingly difficult to chew your food, possibly damaging your jaw joint, the TMJ.

A bridge is another way to solve the missing-tooth problem. But two advantages of an implant over a bridge are that the teeth next to the space aren’t affected with an implant as they are in the preparation for a bridge. Also, the implant helps stop the ongoing bone loss that occurs once a tooth has been lost.

A Single-Tooth Implant: The Procedure

Restoring the mouth with a dental implant is accomplished in two phases. The first phase is the surgical placement of the implant. It is left under the gums for 3-4 months so the bone can attach to it. After healing, the second phase begins; the implant is re-exposed, and the new crown is made.

Though some of the steps might be different in your case, they usually include making impressions of your mouth. From these impressions, your dentist will make precise working models of your mouth, which are carefully mounted for proper alignment. The last step is the placement of the new crown. The success of the implant depends on the care you provide at home, and the support you receive through regular checkups and cleaning.

Multiple Tooth Implants

Missing several teeth? Implant-supported bridges can replace them. Dental implants will replace both your lost natural teeth and some of the roots.

What are the advantages of implant-supported bridges over fixed bridges or removable partial dentures?

Dental implants provide several advantages over other teeth replacement options. Implant-supported bridges replace teeth without support from adjacent natural teeth. Other common treatments for the loss of several teeth, such as fixed bridges or removable partial dentures, are dependent on support from adjacent teeth.

In addition, because implant-supported bridges will replace some of your tooth roots, your bone is better preserved. With a fixed bridge or removable partial denture, the bone that previously surrounded the tooth root may begin to resorb (deteriorate). Dental implants integrate with your jawbone, helping to keep the bone healthy and intact.

In the long term, implants are more aesthetic, functional and comfortable. Gums and bone can recede around a fixed bridge or removable partial denture, leaving a visible defect.

There are some implant systems (one-stage) that do not require this second step. These systems use an implant which already has the extension piece attached. Which can be loaded immediately.

Every case is different, and some of these steps can be combined when conditions permit.

ALL – On – FOUR

How does All-on-Four Technique Work?

All-on-Four technique involves a surgical procedure and is recommended to people who have lost almost all of their teeth. In this procedure implants are precisely placed in the mouth. These implants act as anchors for a complete dental bridge. In most cases, the bridge needs only four dental implants.

This modern technique requires less number of implants and is known to drastically reduce the recovery and treatment time. Once done with implants we install provisional teeth on the same day. These provisional teeth function exactly like natural teeth and allow you to regain your bite and beauty of your smile in a very short period of time until the fixed prosthesis is delivered.

Key benefits of all-on-four Dental Implants

• Preservation of Bone Structure: All-on-four dental implants preserve the bone structure of the jaw. In other cases, dentures are placed on the gums and underlying bone which results in bone loss due to constant pressure.
• Comfortable: The restored teeth are supported by implants instead of gums, so it does not rub and cause patches.
• Improved diet: Dental Implants can easily withstand the forces of hard and crunchy food. This allows you to have healthy and variety of dishes.
• Enhanced self-confidence: These implants do not move in your mouth while eating or talking. So, you can now confidently socialize without any fear of embarrassment.
• Improved appearance: Teeth loss and jaw bone loss affects facial structure and you may look older than you actually are. All-on-four teeth preserve bone loss in your upper and lower jaws, and also support your cheeks and lips.
• Short recovery and treatment time: Tilting of implants and immediate loading avoids time consuming procedures like bone grafting. Moreover less number of surgeries and treatment complexity also significantly reduces the time required to recover.
• Cost- effective: This technique is not only less time consuming but cost effective as well in comparison to traditional treatment of soon to be edentulous and edentulous jaws.

Implant overdentures

A wide variety of implant types and procedures have been used with an overdenture as the means of a final restoration. Although it is used mostly with fixed types of prosthesis, on occasion single fixtures are placed on each side of the midline and an overdenture is fabricated over the fixtures.

Immediate Loading Of Implants

In certain cases, immediate loading implant procedures are considered to be a better option than delayed implants. Immediate loaded implants are exposed to the chewing force immediately after implantation. However, the exact definition of immediate loading may vary from same-day implant loading to a shortly-delayed loading (usually three days to one week) as the manufacturing of a fixed provisory prosthesis might be delayed due to dental lab constraints. Although immediate loaded implants are gaining recognition as an important option for certain categories of implant patients. Same day implants are not complex procedures but they do involve the fulfilment of certain criteria. There is a minimum amount of bone that is required and the placed implant has to be in a position to resist a minimum of chewing force.

In complex cases where a full arch is involved and more than four to six implants are placed in the maxillary or mandibular arch, the situation is paradoxically easier with the condition that all implants are granted from start a motionless function. The use of a large number of implants held together by an immediate prosthesis to prevent micro-motion at the bone-to-implant interface is a critical element in this protocol.

Immediate loading for dental implants is possible or not?

• Immediate loading of an implant at the time of placement has become a viable treatment option, particularly in the aesthetic zone.
• Factors influencing immediate loading – implant features, bone quality and quantity, initial stability.
• Advantages for immediate loading- only one surgical procedure, shortened treatment time.