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IMPLANT TREATMENT
Dental implants are metal (usually titanium) or ceramic artificial tooth roots that are placed in the upper and lower jaw bones. They can be used instead of a bridge in the treatment of single tooth deficiency, or they can be used to support a bridge or denture in the treatment of partial or complete edentulism. Implant-supported prostheses have advantages over traditional prostheses such as less movement, more effective chewing, and closer to the appearance of natural teeth.
The implant(s) acts as a “root” for the prosthetic tooth(s) to be made on it. The prostheses to be made on the implant can be of the type that is glued or screwed to the implants.
Implants are made of biologically compatible materials such as titanium. Therefore, there is little or no chance that the body’s immune system will reject the implant.
WHY IMPLANT TREATMENT
A very common reason for the need for implant treatment is that the lower dentures slip with every movement of the tongue and the upper dentures fall into the mouth during movements such as sneezing, coughing or laughing, making it difficult to chew and speak. In addition, implant treatment is also needed after teeth lost due to decay, injury or disease.
Dental implants can provide patients with a smile that looks and feels natural, even if natural teeth have been lost due to injury or disease. Most patients treated with dental implants experience a significant improvement in their ability to chew food and feel more comfortable.
Almost anyone who is able to have routine dental care can use implants successfully. Implants are very durable and last for many years and require at least as much care as natural teeth.
Implant science and technology is well advanced, as it was developed more than 30 years ago. In addition, the success rate of implants is very high: 98 per cent for lower implants and 91 per cent for upper implants.
HOW MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF DENTAL IMPLANTS ARE THERE?
The two most common types of dental implants are:
Endosteal implants: This type of implant is placed inside the jawbone. It is used as a root to hold the denture in place.
Subperiosteal implants: This type of implant is rarely used. However, it may be an option for people who cannot use traditional dentures. Since the existing bone is insufficient, a lightweight, specially designed metal implant is used, which is placed on the bone rather than in it.
WHAT IS THE TREATMENT PROCESS?
Dental implant treatment requires meticulous planning to achieve the best results. To ensure the best possible outcome, the first stage of treatment is the diagnostic phase. At the first consultation session, your treatment team, consisting of an oral surgeon and a prosthodontist, will request an x-ray to determine whether the bone in the jaw is sufficient for implant placement.
From the information obtained during the diagnostic phase, the treatment team determines the number, type and location of dental implants. The second, surgical phase can then begin, during which the implants are placed. In most cases, the implants are placed under local anesthesia (only the area of the jawbone to be implanted is numbed). There are cases where implants may require a one-stage or two-stage surgical procedure. This is determined individually.
After the implant placement surgery, there may be swelling and bruising of the face and pain in the gums for 7-10 days. It may take 6 weeks to 6 months for the jawbone in which the implants are placed to heal and fully fuse with the implant. The healing time depends on the person, the situation and the type of implant.
After adequate bone and gingival healing, the third stage, the prosthetic stage, is initiated and a series of appointments are arranged for each patient to have custom-made single tooth or bridge prostheses made.
The treatment period from the placement of the implants to the final restoration can last from three to twelve months.
- The tampon placed on the extraction wound should be kept for half an hour.
- Mouth should not be rinsed with water.
- Nothing should be eaten for two hours after the extraction and very hot or cold foods should be avoided.
- Do not smoke for 24 hours. Smoking may cause deterioration of the clot and inflammation of the wound site. This condition called dry socket causes pain for a long time.
- The extraction site should not be touched in any way, the wound area should not be sucked and spat out.
- In case of pain, a medication other than aspirin should be preferred, and if possible, a physician should be consulted for this.
- The extraction site must be kept clean. 24 hours after the extraction, the area should be brushed gently with a soft toothbrush.
- It is considered normal for bleeding to last 6-24 hours with a slight leakage. However, if there is excessive bleeding or if this period is exceeded, a dentist should be consulted.
- Likewise, in cases of prolonged pain and swelling, the dentist should be informed.
Cysts in the jaws are often of dental origin. These cysts, which can form around the tooth root, can reach large sizes if left untreated. In patients with cysts at the root tip, extraction of the tooth is not sufficient for treatment. If the tooth is extracted and the cyst is left in the bone, this cyst continues to grow and reaches large volumes. As a result, a situation may arise in which many teeth need to be extracted.
Dental implants are made by surgically opening slots in the jawbone in the appropriate position, diameter and length for the planned implant. Since implant placement is a surgical procedure, it is one of the most important criteria that the materials used and the sterilisation conditions of the environment are met. For implant surgery, local anaesthesia, i.e. numbing only the area to be treated, is sufficient.
In patients who have completed the age of growth and development and are in good general health, implants can be applied after the bone structure suitability is evaluated. Consultation is required in patients with systemic disorders. When there is no appropriate amount of bone, bone formation procedures (augmentation, bone graft application, bone powder) can be performed in the relevant area after radiological and clinical examination to increase the bone volume to the desired dimensions.