Indications and advantages of implants
What exactly is a dental implant?
Dental implants are small pillars made of biocompatible pure titanium with ceramic-like surfaces, which replace the tooth roots. On top of these artificial roots the dentist can attach crowns, bridges or prostheses, thereby creating a dental replacement, which completely matches the natural tooth in terms of function and aesthetics. With dental implants your dream of firm teeth and an irresistible smile may come true!
Implants may be your key to life quality!
When and for which patients do you recommend dental implants?
Generally, dental implants can replace each lost tooth. This means to you, that we can help you, whether just one or many teeth are missing. Dental implants are also ideal for situations in which the back molars are completely missing on one or both sides. If you have a full prosthesis or need one, implants offer you a valuable alternative. The prosthesis can be anchored on implants, so that the disturbing palate plate can be avoided, and you maintain or regain the feeling of natural teeth.
Here you can see that dental implants are suitable for all age groups aside from children. Limitations are only in cases of rheumatic diseases or systematic cortisone therapy over many years. We would advise heavy smokers against implantation, since smoking is very detrimental to the success of dental implants, potentially causing the implants to loosen and fall out.
How compatible are dental implants and which problems could arise?
Dental implants have been applied successfully for over 25 years and are generally very well tolerated by the patients. There has been no known case of an allergic reaction to titanium worldwide.
The principle prerequisite for a long-term success of implant therapy is however a very good oral hygiene and regular professional care of the tooth replacements. After you have received implants from us, we will professionally train you how to clean your new teeth. Our experienced and professional prophylaxis team will help you and explain everything to you step by step.
Since our office is also specialized in genetic predictive diagnostics, we can perform upon request a genetic analysis using a simple saliva test. With the results we can clarify whether you have a disposition, which might be disadvantageous for implantation.
If an implant does not attach firmly in the bone, the implantation procedure can be repeated. This is also possible many years after the loss of a dental implant, since the jawbone normally grows back. If there are problems in this respect, the existing bone can be reinforced to achieve an optimal result.
What are the advantages of dental implants compared to other tooth replacement alternatives?
Implantology offers an unbeatable advantage over alternative treatments: you feel no difference to your natural teeth when you eat, smile or talk with dental implants. Furthermore, we do not have to grind your other healthy teeth to insert an implant. Consequently, we will be able to retain your healthy tooth substance.
Patients with a removable prosthesis will know this problem: bone and gums resorb after a short while and the prosthesis no longer fits properly. The prosthesis starts to hurt. In contrast to this scenario, dental implants maintain jawbone and gums, because the forces automatically applied during chewing are distributed evenly to the implant and the jawbone as with natural teeth.
An additional advantage: permanently emplaced tooth replacements are beneficial to the jaw joints and the spinal cord. We have discovered that patients often have jaw and neck problems, if they have poorly fitting prostheses, or have had functionally false tooth replacements or orthodontic treatment. Such jaw and neck problems often result from a disadvantageous distribution of the chewing forces.
Can implants be placed even if I have periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease is caused by particular bacteria and in combination with a specific genetic disposition, and in most cases it is accompanied not only by receding gums, but also the more critical loss of bone. This causes teeth to loosen and fall out in the end. If you receive an implant at the right time in place of the loosened tooth, further bone loss can normally be prevented. Implants grow just as firmly into the bone in patients with periodontal disease as with periodontally healthy patients, but it is critical to have the right timing to prevent bone from excessive resorption.
An removable partial prosthesis or an attached clasp prosthesis could lead to further tooth loss in patients with periodontal disease, because the teeth which are supporting the prosthesis are over-loaded.
Before placing a dental implant in patients with periodontal disease, we treat the cause of the tooth loss and save he remaining teeth to maintain as healthier tooth structure as possible. Consequently, the success rate is just as high as with all other patients.