Implantology is the branch of dentistry that replaces missing teeth with prostheses anchored to the jawbones by titanium screws, to give a natural-looking set of teeth. What are the timescales and, above all, the right methods for getting back a perfect smile?
Trauma, neglected tooth decay and very advanced periodontitis can lead to the loss of one or more teeth (edentulism). Besides the obvious social and aesthetic discomfort, this can cause serious problems in the mouth, particularly with chewing, which can in turn have serious consequences for general health.
It is therefore important to replace missing teeth promptly with artificial titanium roots, which act as anchors for the prostheses so that they blend in with the natural teeth. Titanium integrates effectively with bone: once the implant is placed, osteoblasts (the cells responsible for forming new bone) grow on the rough surface of the screw, creating a structural and functional connection between the living bone and the implant itself.
Before going ahead with an implant, however, the patient’s age must be taken into account (it is not advisable for people who are too young), as well as their general health, to rule out the risk of complications from the dental procedure and plan a suitable course of treatment. As with any surgery, certain conditions need careful assessment to check for and quantify any medical risk.
How long it takes to place an implant varies from patient to patient, depending on how complex the case is. In the simplest cases, where there is enough bone volume and good gum support, a few minutes may be enough. Where a bone graft or several implants are needed, the procedure can take up to a few hours.
With traditional implantology, the final prosthesis can only be fitted after a few months of osseointegration (from 2 to 6 months). A second method, post-extraction implantation, involves placing the implant immediately in the socket of an extracted diseased tooth, provided there is no infection, abscess or cyst. Finally, a third method, known as immediate loading, allows a temporary prosthesis to be fitted on the newly placed implant straight away.
Although dental implants have a very high survival rate (95% at 5 years for implants in the lower jaw and 90% for implants in the upper jaw), they can fail for a number of reasons, mostly linked to the healing process. For example, if the implant has been placed in an unfavourable position or not all the necessary X-ray examinations have been carried out, osseointegration may not take place. Implants can also fracture or become infected, just like natural teeth.
It is very important to rely on trusted professionals who can assess the solution best suited to the patient and monitor the success of the treatment over time. Dental implantology is a complex dental therapy that requires great skill, respect for the proper healing times and a good deal of cooperation between dentist and patient.
Photo: Erick Tang on Unsplash
