Implants are the best alternative that provides the function and aesthetics of natural teeth. Stopping the melting of the jawbone, which is one of the important problems that occur with tooth loss, can only be achieved with implants today. While implants provide better speech and chewing function than traditional veneers and prostheses, they also bring a natural appearance to your face.
Today, implants are the most important development of dentistry in the 21st century. When applied with correct diagnosis, sufficient knowledge, experience and equipment, dental implants are a form of treatment that can give exceptionally successful results for the patient and the physician.
What is an implant?
In short, implants are artificial tooth roots that are placed in the jawbone to provide the function and aesthetics of missing teeth and are generally made of titanium.
Is treatment with implants safe and long-lasting?
Implant treatment is a completely safe treatment when performed by specialist dentists. In implant treatment, which generally has a very high satisfaction rate, 98% success has been achieved today. In many cases, it has been observed that the implants remain in the mouth for up to thirty years without any problems. Implants are now considered as long-lasting as teeth. Especially after the age of 35-40, implants in many cases last longer than the treatment of natural teeth. After all, implants can be used for a lifetime. Your dentist will give you more detailed information on this subject.
Can implants be used in all situations?
Implants can be applied to every case with tooth loss, whether a single tooth or all teeth are missing.
Can each patient be implanted?
Implant screws are structures that have a specific thickness and width. For this reason, the jawbone in the area where the implant is to be placed must have the height and width to accept this implant screw. The quality of the existing bone also determines how quickly a prosthesis will be placed on the implant. As long as the general health of the patient is good, there is no upper age limit to prevent implant application, but it may not be preferred to apply to very young patients whose bone development has not been completed.
Will I feel pain when the implant is placed?
No, if appropriate anesthetic methods are used. Usually, the pain that can be felt on the evening of the implant can be relieved with simple painkillers. Many patients state that this pain is not different from the pain felt after normal tooth extraction.
Can my prostheses be fitted immediately after the implants are placed?
The answer to this question is sometimes yes and sometimes no. The quality of the bone in which the implants are placed depends on the location of the implant. However, your doctor can sometimes make a suitable temporary prosthesis for you and provide chewing and aesthetics immediately.
What is the total treatment time?
You will usually need to come to 5-6 separate appointments from the first examination until you are done. If there is a situation where prosthesis can be made immediately on the implants, at least 2 appointments are sufficient. The duration of these appointments will be of different lengths depending on the characteristics of the work to be done. In short, if there is a hard and medium hard bone structure, the treatment can be completed in 1-2 weeks, while if there is a weak bone structure, the treatment can last for 2 – 5 months.
Is cleaning of implants important?
Yes. Cleaning by brushing like teeth in implants is at least as important as your own teeth. What you should not forget is that oral care is done regularly.
How are prostheses to be made on implants?
Fixed porcelain coatings can be applied on the implants, as well as removable dentures that can be removed by the patient, which can be planned by the dentist. Your doctor will explain the design that is suitable for you before your treatment begins.
Is ‘one’ implant required for every missing tooth?
No. In general, when 2 implants are placed, it can serve 3 or more teeth. In cases where many teeth are missing, especially in the posterior region of the jaw, the number of implants should be increased in order to make fixed prosthesis. Since the bone resorption stops in the implanted area, the number of implants is sometimes increased to stop the bone resorption.
Is implant treatment expensive?
Yes. The fact that all the materials used are imported and the need for very high technology for healthy implant production determines the price of the treatment. Due to the economic conditions in our country, the increases observed in exchange rates also negatively affect the cost of treatment. The complexity and length of implant placement varies depending on the patient’s dental health and needs, the result can be a large investment.
What advantages does implant treatment offer in which situations?
· Patients who have lost all their teeth and have full dentures:
These patients complain of constant pain and inability to chew well due to the movement of the prosthesis. In such patients, implant treatment not only eliminates all the above complaints, but also stops the bone from resolving.
· Patients who have lost some of their teeth in the lower or upper jaw: The complaints of these patients can be counted as the ugly appearance of a removable prosthesis attached with hooks, or the necessity of having their healthy teeth cut in order to make a bridge. Implant prostheses eliminate both conditions.
· Patients who have lost a single tooth: These patients are the ones who have to have a bridge made by having at least two adjacent teeth cut for the restoration of a single missing tooth. Placing a single implant saves 2 adjacent teeth from being cut.
What are the advantages of implant treatment?
better chewing
Being able to eat whatever you want
Better aesthetic appearance
A happier social life with the recovery of self-confidence
A healthier and more balanced diet based on being able to eat everything
Stopping the inevitable bone resorption caused by tooth loss
Is there a risk of implants being rejected by the body?
Implants are made of titanium, which has no side effects for the organism, and have been subjected to intense research for years. It was published in 1982 that bone forms a complete bond with titanium. The possibility that the body produces counter-antigens against titanium implants and rejects them as in heart and kidney transplants has not been found.
Is the success of the implants guaranteed?
Many companies give a lifetime warranty to their implants against damage such as breakage etc.
