Are you interested in how dental implants are installed? Take a look at the procedure of installing dental implants, which inserts are the best, how much is the price, and what are the possible problems with dental implants?
Despite the great advances in dental medicine in the 21st century, data show that a large number of European populations are missing one or more teeth, and it is estimated that one in four Europeans over the age of 70 has lost all their natural teeth.
Although there are many dental procedures for tooth replacement, implant placement is certainly one of the best and most commonly used bio-materials for replacing one or more missing teeth.
Inserting dental implants requires going to the dentist and performing a minor surgical procedure, so it is useful to fully understand the process of implantation if you decide to choose this treatment option.
So if you are missing one or several teeth, your oral surgeon can help you restore the look, feel and function of a smile by painlessly installing dental implants.
Also, dental implants are most similar to natural teeth and behave and look like completely natural teeth.
Dental Implant placement procedure
Find out below what is the procedure of installing dental implants, which implants are of the highest quality, and other useful information for the health of teeth and dental implants.
What is the procedure for installing dental implants?
The dental implant is a dowel-like surgical component of titanium that attaches to the jaw bone and supports dental abutments such as crowns, bridges, dentures and has the role of an orthodontic anchor.
When it comes to implant placement, dentists usually follow a fairly simple procedure.
Here are a few steps in the dental implant process that many oral surgeons follow, including before, during and after the procedure itself.
Preparation before surgery
Before starting any work, the first step in the process of dental implant placement is to schedule an initial consultation with a dentist to thoroughly check the health of your mouth.
This may include modern X-ray diagnostics, CT and panoramic imaging – orthopan, and possible 3D scans.
Also, the dentist will check whether any preparations are needed before placing the implant, such as osseointegration (the process of joining implants with bone), treating gum disease or transplanting gums.
Although some patients may not need much, if at all, treatment before surgery, but it is important for those with minor oral health complications to ensure good oral health before the procedure.
Placement of dental implants
After the patient’s mouth is ready for surgery, the day and time for implant placement is scheduled.
The implant is placed inside the existing jaw bone above or below the missing tooth or on the bone.
Implantation involves making incisions on the gums and placing implants in or on the bone. After surgery, the implant may take several weeks or even months to properly merge with the bone inside the jaw.
Installation of brackets and dental crowns
Once your implant heals, the last step is a less invasive procedure of placing the abutment and crown on the implant.
Abutment is a small pillow like a shock absorber that is placed between the implant and the permanent crown. This step often involves detecting the gums so that the implant can be closed for the proper fit of the carrier and crown.
Once the bracket is attached, your new artificial crown can be installed and the process of placing the dental implant is complete.
In most cases, one missing tooth goes to one implant, the dental crown is attached to the support, while a bridge or denture can be attached to a set of implants to replace multiple missing teeth.
Dental bone augmentation
If your jaw bone is not thick enough or is too soft, you may need an augmentation (upgrading) of your dental bone before dental implant surgery.
This is because a strong tooth bite puts a lot of pressure on the bone, and if it can’t handle the implant, the surgery probably wouldn’t work. Augmentation of the dental bone can create a firmer basis for the implant.
Different types of bone grafts
There are four main types of bone grafts, including:
Preservation of the jaw
Preservation of the jaw or preservation of the alveolar ridge is a procedure for reducing loss of bone mass after tooth extraction. After tooth extraction, the jaw bone has a natural tendency to narrow and lose its original shape as the bone is rapidly reabsorbed, resulting in a loss of bone volume of 30-60% in the first six months.
This type of dental abutment is placed in the jaw immediately after tooth extraction. It fills the gap left behind behind by the missing tooth and prevents the jaw sides from snapping.
Ridge augmentation
If you are missing teeth for a while, the supporting jaw bone may be thinner than it was before. Ridge augmentation increases the width and volume of the jaw bone so that it can provide a stable basis for implants.
Sinus lift (sinus lift)
The maxillary sinuses are located right above your upper back teeth. If the upper hind teeth are missing, the sinuses can descend and occupy the space once occupied by the roots of the teeth.
In this scenario, you would not want to place implants because they would pierce the membrane of the sinuses. To solve this problem, your oral surgeon or periodontologist may perform a sinus lift.
This procedure lifts the sinus back to its proper position. The dental bone graft is then placed under the sinuses, creating a solid foundation for later dental implants.
Periodontal bone graft
Infection caused by gum disease can corrode the bone that supports the teeth. This can cause teeth to nod. The periodontal bone graft is placed around the existing tooth to reduce mobility and provide additional support.
In most cases, bone press for dental implants must be fully healed before the actual implant is placed.
Since each person is unique, recovery times vary. In rare cases, your dentist may be able to place a bone graft and a dental implant at the same time. But this is decided on a case-by-case basis.
Material for augmentation of dental bone
Material for augmentation of dental bone can be taken from one’s own body (autogenous), it can be purchased at a human tissue bank (allograft) or in an animal tissue bank (xenograft).
In some cases, bone grafting material may be synthetic (alloplast).
Augmentation of dental bone recovery
It may take several months to recover dental bone augmentation until the transplanted bone grows enough new bone to support the dental implant.
In some cases, you may only need smaller bone abutments, which can be done at the same time as implant surgery. The condition of your jaw bone determines the recovery time and how you will proceed.
Augmentation of dental bone complications
Dental bone augmentation has an impressively high success rate. However, as with any procedure, complications are possible – especially among people who smoke or have certain medical conditions.
Signs of dental bone upgrade complications include:
- Pain or swelling that worsens after the first week.
- Manure or drainage from the site of augmentation.
- Recession of the gums (when the gums move away from the teeth).
- There is no improvement in the volume of the jaw bone.
- Infection.
- Heavy bleeding.
- Damage to the dental nerve.
- Complications from anesthesia.
Dental bone augmentation price
The cost of dental bone augmentation varies greatly, depending on the condition of the individual jaw bone and the specific needs of the patient.
A simple graft that uses synthetic bone usually ranges from 300 to 800 euros for each area of the implant.
Also, there is a likelihood that you will have additional costs in the form of X-rays, CT scans or other types of upgrade preparation procedures.
Recovery after implant placement
During the recovery process after implant placement, there is always the possibility of discomfort, swelling and pain, since it is an easier surgical procedure on your jaw.
However, any pain is generally tolerable if the dentist’s instructions on oral care and hygiene after installation are strictly followed.
Also, the healing time and full recovery before the placement of the tooth itself takes from 3 to 6 months.
Hygiene after dental implant placement
After implant placement, be sure to maintain good oral hygiene by gently brushing several times a day and frequently using mouthwash.
Also, do hygiene after each meal and rinse your mouth well with water, so that food residues do not collect around the insert and seams of thread.
What to eat after implant placement?
The first ones don’thow many weeks after surgery it is recommended to primarily eat soft and liquid foods, such as oatmeal, eggs, protein drinks and soup.
Also, after installing a dental implant, avoid eating foods such as peanuts, popcorn, crackers and any waiting hard which could lead to injury or deformation of the dental implant.
How long does it take to install dental implants?
The surgical procedure usually takes about 1-2 hours for each implant to be implanted.
After the end of the operation, the healing time lasts from 3 to 6 months before the placement of the final crown.
This may seem frustrating, but the healing process is very important to ensure successful dental implantation. It takes some time for the implant to integrate into the bone, so it has the strength to support your teeth as you bite and chew.
The best way to get an idea of how long the dental implant process will take is to talk to your dentist.
Implant placement immediately after tooth extraction
If you have recently removed a tooth or one tooth will soon have to be extracted, it is understandable that you want to fill that empty space between the two teeth as soon as possible.
So, can dental implants be done immediately after tooth extraction? Here are some scenarios:
- Urgent implant placement: In the most ideal circumstances, a dental implant can be implanted in the jaw bone immediately after tooth extraction, even during the same term. This could be an option for you if you don’t have gum disease and have a healthy, dense jaw bone.
- Early implant placement: Early implant placement is usually done 2-3 months after tooth extraction. This short period allows the gums to heal and gives your body a chance to fight all possible infections.
- Delayed implant placement: Delayed implant placement occurs 3 or more months after tooth extraction. This is usually the best option for people who have suffered serious oral tissue damage, either due to advanced gum disease or other causes.
Removal of stitches after implant placement
How long does it take to remove stitches after implant placement?
Most dentists today use threads that break down, so there is no need to remove the seams. If you have such strings, you can expect them to loosen up and fall out within a week.
In case you have stripping threads, most likely the dentist will make an appointment for you to remove the stitches no later than ten days after the procedure.
Also, try not to touch the seams with your fingers or tongue.
Does implant placement hurt?
Surely you want to know how much it hurts, and does the installation of dental implants hurt at all? The answer is simple – No!
Before starting the implantation, the dentist must numb the site of the procedure with local anesthesia. The procedure is not started until the tooth area is completely numb.
Local anesthesia will numb the nerves surrounding the area of the dental implant. With numb nerves, you can be sure that you will not feel any pain during the dental implantation procedure.
Sometimes only pressure can be felt, but this should not cause you discomfort. In the only case when you might experience pain is shortly after surgery when the anesthesia subsides.
So, does it hurt to put implants? – It doesn’t hurt!
How long do dental implants last?
The average lifespan of a dental implant is from 10 to 30 years. This means that most likely, depending on the age when you get the implant, it will last for the rest of your life.
No other tooth replacement option can last that long. When you install a dental implant, you invest in the health of your teeth for life.
What are the best/highest quality dental implants?
If you’re wondering what the best dental implants are, there are some well-known brands that produce components and implementation systems for surgeries and dental implant placement.
All these brands offer superior quality, durability, innovation and accessibility to varying degrees.
Also, some of these companies are relatively new, while others have been on the market for more than three decades like Straumann, Nobel Biocare, Astra Tech and Zimmer.
So, these are the best and highest quality manufacturers of dental implants, known for their innovation in the field of dental medicine:
How much does it cost to install a dental implant?
Treatment requires several appointments during therapy, and the cost of implant placement depends on the type of implant, quality, and the material of crowns that are installed.
The price of dental implants
Therefore, the price of implant placement + implant abutment + dental crown in the Republic of Croatia ranges from 600€ to 1330€, and in other European countries from 930€ to 3320€ and more.
Please note that prices vary from office to office, including certain discounts and benefits on the payment of treatments, and on all implanted dental implants dentists provide a lifetime warranty.
Also, most dental clinics offer different types of card and cash payments, as well as payment in installments.
Since the treatment of dental implants requires a longer process of therapy, payment, in principle, goes by the stages of work. The first part is paid at the completion of the implantation operation, and the second part after a few months when it is time to place the dental crown, or at the end of the procedure.
Implants may initially be slightly more expensive than other treatments, but with proper care you will never think about your teeth again or worry about losing them.
Is there a harm to dental implants
Dental implantation surgery has almost one hundred percent success, the procedure is very low risk and brings aesthetics and functionality back into your life.
However, there are side effects and harmfulness of dental implants that you need to consider for practical reasons, but this should not deter you from installing new teeth.
See below for some of the complications and harms of dental implants.
Complications after the installation of dental implants
Although implantation has a generally high rate of successful growth in bone tissue and generally works without any problems for most people, however, some complications can occur after dental implants are placed.
Because every organism is different, there are a small number of people who have enhanced sensitivity to rare metals like Titan, which is why their body simply rejects implanted metal implants.
Dental experts recommend undergoing testing the body’s sensitivity to metals before receiving such dental inserts.
Here are some possible complications and problems that can occur after the installation of dental implants:
- Bacterial Infection: At the implant site, the most common complication is after the insertion of dental implants. Gum infection may require antibiotics or transplantation of bone and soft tissue.
- Shrinking gums: In some cases, it may happen that the gum tissue around the implant begins to recede. This can lead to inflammation and pain. A quick evaluation by a dentist is key to preventing insert removal.
- Loose implant: In the first few weeks, the dental implant will merge with the jaw bone. This process is called osseointegration and is crucial for long-term success. If the insert fails to merge with the bone, the dentist can remove it, and retry the implantation after the area heals.
- Nerve or tissue damage: Sometimes a surgeon may unintentionally place a dental implant too close to the nerve. This can cause numbness around the implant, tingling, discomfort and persistent pain. Injury to the inferior alveolar nerve in the lower jaw can be potentially serious and requires immediate dental intervention.
Additional possible problems with dental implants
Dental implant surgery can also result in some less common problems, such as sinus problems and damage to the dental implant itself.
- Sinus problems: Dental implants of the upper jaw can protrude into the sinus cavities, causing inflammation of the sinuses. This can cause pain, tenderness or swelling around the cheeks, eyes or forehead, decreased sense of smell, sinus headaches, toothache, bad breath, and high fever.
- Damage from the influence of force: As with any other tooth, excessive force or blow can cause the dental implant to crack or loosen. You can probably unknowingly apply excessive force to dental implants, e.g., gnashing or grinding your teeth in a dream.
Placement of dental implants for a more beautiful smile
The placement of dental implants in the vast majority ends successfully. Sometimes, however, in very rare circumstances, some complications can occur.
You can also make your implants and remaining natural teeth last longer if:
- Practice oral hygiene daily. Just like with natural teeth, maintain the implantdads, artificial teeth and gum tissue clean. Specially designed brushes, such as the Inter-dental brush that slides between the teeth, can help clean the corners and cracks around the teeth, gums and metal wedges.
- Visit the dentist regularly. Schedule dental check-ups to ensure the dental health of your dental implants and follow teeth cleaning tips.
- Avoid harmful habits. Do not chew hard objects, such as ice and hard candies, that can break your crowns or your natural teeth. Avoid tobacco and caffeinated products that leave stains on your teeth. Seek medical advice if you are gnashing your teeth in your sleep.
Placing dental implants are a long-term investment in the function of your beautiful teeth and radiant smile.