Dental implant replace cavities after extracted teeth and eliminate the need to grind healthy teeth during dental bridge construction. These make it possible to replace removable dentures with fixed dentures. Just like natural teeth, experts fix it directly on the jaw. Specialists make them from titanium, and nowadays, they are usually cylindrical. Dentists fix the more significant part of the implant in the jaw. Thus, the smaller portion of the bone protrudes into the mouth, forming an oral column in the cavity to which an artificial dental crown or bridge is attached.
| Operation Duration | Length of hospitalization | Recovery Time |
| 1-2 hours | Outpatient | 2-6 months |
Implants have become powerful tools for doctors and patients in solving various dental problems. Over the decades of development, when its properties have continually improved, implantology has reached a point where this treatment method is as widely used as, for example, in manufacturing a bridge or prosthesis. Implants professionals can use anywhere from the loss of a tooth to replacing the entire dental arch:
- Loss of a tooth: In this case, implants are particularly advantageous if the teeth adjacent to the cavity are entirely healthy and don’t require crown treatment. In the classical dentistry treatment with a fixed bridge, the teeth adjacent to the hole must be ground into a crown that fulfills the role of the columnar structure. If adjacent teeth are in bad condition, then this may not be a problem. However, grinding is a relatively aggressive intervention if the teeth are intact or have only minor fillings. Long story short, veneers are great if you need them, but not so good for healthy teeth!
- Unilateral shortened dental arch: This defect represents a situation where there is a loss in the area of the molars, and the posterior space isn’t limited to another tooth suitable for fixing the bridge. Professionals usually solve this situation with a removable partial replacement. However, due to the problematic stability of such a prosthesis, this treatment is quite difficult in the case of a unilateral disability. A bridge fixed to the implants will save the patient from wearing this ugly metal structure.
- Loss of all teeth in the jaw: Wearing lower and sometimes upper total dentures is a significant inconvenience, especially during chewing, because these dentures don’t hold in place in any way. Various adhesive preparations may slightly improve this situation, but we cannot discuss complete patient satisfaction. However, several implants with special attachments (plug-in joints) that fix the prosthesis can significantly increase the patient’s comfort!
What is Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a kind of artificial tooth root that replaces the tooth root you lost, and most implants are similar in shape to tooth roots. The dental implant then places in the jawbone, which grows into its specially prepared surface and is firmly attached to the implant. This results in implant healing (we use the term osseointegration), which becomes a solid part of the bone and is ready to be loaded.
Implantation is a relatively simple surgical procedure. The dentist carefully places the implant in the jawbone. It is performed in an ordinary dental chair under local anesthesia, guaranteeing a painless process. Implantation of an implant takes approximately 30 minutes. After the process, you will typically go home. For post-operative difficulties, especially minor procedures, the pain is mild.
At the patient’s request, experts may decide incapacity for work. Healing occurs in 3-6 months when a solid connection forms between the bone and the implant. This process is called osseointegration. Recovery times vary according to the quality of the bone. Meanwhile, the specialist closes the implant with a metal cover cap that extends slightly beyond the gingival margin. Except for the few days required for the peaceful healing of the wound, the patient can wear a temporary denture that will facilitate regular social contact and food intake throughout the treatment period. After the implant has healed perfectly, the dentist makes a conventional plug-in crown, bridge, or prosthesis.
The primary condition is excellent, and permanently practiced oral hygiene. To prevent inflammation of the gums, you should clean your teeth and implants very well with a toothbrush, interdental brush, or dental floss, according to the instructions of the doctor and oral hygienist. Otherwise, the body may reject the implant. To minimize the risk of failure, you should go for regular checkups while the implant is in your mouth.
Other essential conditions are inadequate quality bone at the intended implantation area and general severe diseases such as diabetes, blood coagulation disorders, cancer treated with radiation, and available corticoids.
The first condition is the successful healing of the implant. The risk of failure is 1%. The possibility of implant rejection is a small but common medical risk that experts inform patients about in advance in writing.
Failures often cause by a bacterial infection that disrupts the strong connection between the bone and the implant. The length of time an implant stays in the mouth is affected by many factors, including the level of oral hygiene, the quality and quantity of bone, the number and quality of the patient’s teeth, the number of implants, and several other factors.
Who Should Have Dental Implant Procedure?
Digital dental implants are a modern dental wonder. The dentist uses a computer for implant treatment. Specialists can check the bones’ condition and the dental nerves’ position through a 3D simulated program. Using the information they have obtained, experts can find the exact location of the dental implant and make a smaller incision. This method’s pain is much less than traditional implant surgery. Thanks to the development of dental implantology, you have the chance to:
- You’ve lost a single tooth and don’t want healthy neighboring teeth to be ground to make a bridge.
- You don’t want to wear a removable denture that will replace or replace your lost teeth.
- You have complete dentures and want to return to the comfort of your good teeth.
For a dental implant to be successful, of course, you must meet other conditions, such as a sufficient amount of high-quality bone, excellent oral hygiene, the ability to heal wounds, and general health. Implantation is unsuitable for patients with diabetes or other prevalent severe illnesses, taking certain medications, titanium allergy (very rare), and smokers who smoke more than five cigarettes daily.
Experts can supplement insufficient width or bone height to some extent with the help of so-called magnification. There are several types of magnification techniques. Experts use artificial bone materials or bones from elsewhere for augmentation.
This is a minimal surgical procedure performed by the specialist using local anesthesia. Specialists can simultaneously achieve smaller magnifications while placing the implant. In the case of a more considerable augmentation procedure, specialists can place an implant after 6-9 months required for complete healing and bone regeneration.
High-quality analysis and the creation of an implant plan are essential for modern implantology. Some workplaces that offer implant placement still work with conventional 2D panoramic radiographs. However, 2D images cannot provide accurate information about the spatial arrangement of anatomical structures, especially the width of the bone or the position and course of the jaw cavity. Unpleasant complications may arise due to a lack of knowledge during implant placement. Therefore, choose clinics equipped with a panoramic X-ray machine that offers 3D imaging (CBCT).
If you have a history of chemotherapy or radiotherapy or are currently receiving these treatments, you should know that your chances of successful treatment are lower. Some medical conditions, such as osteoporosis and similar diseases, haven’t yet been confirmed, and their effect on function and endurance is unknown. For this surgery to perform, the patient’s gum health is critical, and the jaw bones must be solid and compatible enough to sustain it. In most cases, if you smoke, the dentist will ask you to stop smoking. Smoking reduces the likelihood of successful treatment.
What are the Risks of the Dental Implant Process?
Every surgery has the possibility of complications, but in general, dental implant treatment is very low-risk and successful. However, as in all other procedures, post-procedure bleeding, infection, swelling, and slight bruising occur in dental implants. In addition, experts consider the possibility that the patient is allergic.
Dentists should carefully check medications and underlying diseases before surgery to avoid problems. After the specialist has placed the implant, the probability of the implant breaking is very rare, and the resistance of this prosthesis against pressure and impacts is excellent. However, it is doubtful that the implant will break during the operation, applying too much pressure to the implant or bone, and damaging the alignment to the surrounding structures (blood vessels, nerves, or jawbone).
Most cases can be avoided by choosing and adequately planning an experienced implant surgeon. Selecting an implant specialist with the skills and experience minimizes the chance of implant surgery complications. The dentist avoids complications of the implant as much as possible with proper planning and careful selection of the implant location, type, alignment, and other considerations.
What Will You Encounter During a Dental Implant Consultation?
Dental implant consultation is crucial to you in any case. First, evaluating whether you are a suitable candidate for a dental implant will be more accurate by being examined and visited by a dentist or implant specialist. Choosing dental implants for tooth replacement has many advantages over artificial teeth or dental bridges. Because the dentist places the implant in the jawbone, it is much more stable and long-lasting than artificial teeth or dental bridges and looks more natural in the mouth. One of the most critical reasons why implants prefer over other extraction methods is the close resemblance of implants to natural teeth.
In addition, it is a tremendous advantage that implants perform better in chewing and aesthetics than bridges and artificial teeth, and the life of the teeth is longer. Replacing a tooth with an implant is one of the least complicated and least painful ways to replace a lost tooth.
Professionals can use implants to replace one tooth, several teeth, or even all teeth. The purpose of replacing teeth in dentistry is to restore function and beauty to a person’s mouth. There are three solutions regarding dental prostheses; one is the use of artificial teeth, the second is the use of dental bridges, and the third is the placement of dental implants.
Artificial teeth are a more affordable option for tooth replacement, but they are the least preferred due to many inconveniences and complications. Dentures, in addition to adversely affecting the person’s beauty, can cause problems in the ability to chew and eat and cause digestive issues in the person.
Before the implant, the dental bridge was a standard method of replacing teeth. The most critical weakness of the bridge was that it was attached to the healthy teeth on the side and caused the person to grind their healthy teeth, which was a factor in the decay of healthy teeth. The implant doesn’t harm healthy lateral teeth and remains firm and stable by being implanted in the jawbone. During the consultation, the specialist will explain the risks and advantages in detail.
How Should You Prepare for Dental Implant Procedure?
Before doing anything, dentists will explain to you how to prepare for treatment. When creating a dental file, specialists will give you a questionnaire about specific medical conditions before any treatment. Fill out this questionnaire completely and accurately; if important information is not in the questionnaire, share it with your dentist.
The success rate will be high for many people who don’t carry any particular risk by carefully considering and applying all these treatment steps. Before surgery, specialists will examine the gums to ensure they are in total health. In addition, the specialists must fully treat the infection or cavities in the adjacent gums and teeth instead of the implant.
After ensuring the total health of the surgical site and surrounding oral tissues, the specialists prepare a special radiographic scan of the implant of the problem area. A report usually accompanies the scan, and a CD is ready. With the help of this information, dentists examine the height and thickness of the bone, as well as other vital conditions such as the passage of essential nerves and sinuses.
Thus, specialists determine the best size and location of the dental implant. The last thing you should pay attention to before dental implant surgery is to tell your specialist about the drugs you use and your diseases.
How is Dental Implant Procedure Performed?
For a preliminary examination, dentists take X-rays and, among other things, evaluate whether there is enough bone in the jawbone to place an implant. If there isn’t enough bone or it isn’t strong enough, the dentist performs a transplant with artificial bone. Placement of implants is a process because the implant must fit tightly to the jawbone for the new synthetic tooth to insert. It is possible to install temporary artificial teeth during the recovery period. Check out the dental implant procedure steps:
- Examination of the condition of your mouth and teeth
First, the specialists will assess the state of your mouth and health and take the necessary photos. Experts carefully check the quality and volume of the bone at this stage to determine whether the implant will have sufficient support.
- Planning
Then the specialists move on to the treatment planning stage and set a surgery appointment for you.
- Anesthesia
You will be under local anesthesia or anesthesia before starting treatment. Sometimes sedatives are needed along with anesthesia.
- Tooth extraction
If the dentist hasn’t yet extracted your damaged tooth, the dentist will carefully remove your teeth so as not to damage the bone and soft tissues. Specialists in the jaw bone graft application usually do this at this stage and place the bone graft material into the bone of the empty tooth cavity. In this case, dentists will wait between two and six months for the bone to heal and be ready for surgery fully. If the implant locates at the back of the mouth in the upper jaw, sometimes a sinus lift operation, where the base of the sinus find, is required due to the low height of the jawbone in this region and the possibility of sinus perforation.
- Bone process
If there is no need to strengthen the bone, the specialist proceeds to bone drilling in the next step after removing the tooth. With a dental drill, the dentist drills into the bone to the appropriate size, and then the specialist places the implants in it. Then, the specialist closes the implant hole with a piece we call the cover screw.
- Implant placement and gum suturing
The next step is to have the gum sutured by the specialist. The dentist may suture the gum around the implant, expose the implant head, or pull the gum over the implant and suture it to protect it further. In the second case, the specialist performs a simple operation and replaces the dental cover.
- Waiting time for bone grafts and implants
Depending on the condition and quality of the bone after the experts place the implant, the time you should wait ranges from 2 to 6 months. You should not apply any pressure to the implant during this time. To create secondary stability in the implant, you must allow the bone to grow and gradually infuse the implant.
- Placement of the abutment
After the bone and implant have fused, the dentist will place the abutment. The dentist unscrews the cover of the implant and screws a piece called an abutment onto the implant. The abutment acts like a shaved tooth on which the veneer will be attached and serves as a base for the veneer to be connected. The specialist ends the procedure in the final stage by linking the appropriate artificial teeth.
What to Consider After Dental Implant Procedure?
Here are some things to consider after a dental implant procedure in general:
- After the surgery, there may be some bruising and swelling at the level of the gums and soft tissues. You can usually control these disorders with regular analgesic and antibiotic therapy.
- Among analgesics and anti-inflammatories, the most suitable drugs are paracetamol, ketoprofen and ibuprofen. Always remember not to abuse it because, like other drugs, they can cause side effects. Therefore, take them only when needed and possibly after meals.
- However, you should know that using analgesics may not be necessary if the intervention has been carefully studied and administered correctly.
- Regarding antibiotics, you should strictly follow your dentist’s prescriptions carefully. This way, you will prevent any infection from starting that could endanger the health of your systems.
- Dental implants need regular maintenance and inspection, just like natural teeth. Use a dentist-recommended brush and floss, and visit your dentist often.
- It is helpful to pay attention to nutrition in the days immediately after the surgery. Avoid scorching foods, as these can irritate the gum tissue and cause the stitches to open. Also, try not to eat tiny foods or foods that don’t break down quickly. These can stick to the wound and cause inflammation.
- Finally, abstaining from smoking for a few days would be good practice. Smoking is a significant irritant to the tissues of the oral cavity and may even be a contraindication for the application of an implant.
- If you follow your dentist’s instructions meticulously, you will avoid the risk of peri-implantitis, which can also lead to the loss of the implant.
What is the Recovery Process After a Dental Implant?
The recovery process after a dental implant may vary depending on the procedure and patient. In general, however, most people can expect to experience some swelling, bruising, and discomfort for the first few days after surgery. Over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help reduce discomfort. Take a look at the recovery process after a dental implant in general:
- It is essential to follow your dentist’s post-operative care instructions, including taking antibiotics to prevent infection, avoiding certain foods and activities, and rinsing with a special mouthwash. Some people may need to visit their dentist for follow-up visits to check the healing process.
- The implant may take several weeks or even months to fully heal and integrate with the surrounding bone. During this time, it is crucial to maintain good oral hygiene and care for the implant site as directed by your dentist. After the implant is fully integrated, a permanent crown or bridge can be placed over the implant to restore the tooth’s function.
- In general, it is essential to be patient and carefully follow your dentist’s instructions to ensure a smooth and successful recovery after implant surgery.
- After the procedure, you may experience some swelling and discomfort, which you can usually treat with over-the-counter pain medications.
- Your dentist will provide specific instructions for caring for the surgical site, including how to brush and floss around the implant.
- You will need to avoid strenuous activities and stick to a soft food diet for a few days after the procedure.
How Long After Dental Implant Will You See the Final Result?
The time it takes to see the final result after dental implants may vary depending on the specific details of the procedure and the patient’s healing process. In general, it may take several months for the implant to fully integrate with the jawbone (a process called osseointegration).
Once the osseointegration is complete, your dentist will install an abutment with a small attachment that will hold the artificial tooth in place. The last step in the process is the placement of the artificial tooth, which will be custom-made to match the color and shape of your natural tooth. You can usually complete this final step a few weeks after the experts have placed the abutment.
In general, it isn’t unusual for the implant removal process to take several months, from the initial surgery to the placement of the last artificial tooth. However, the exact timeline may vary depending on the specifics of your case and your healing process. Also, most patients can return to normal activities within a few days of the initial surgery. You must follow your dentist’s instructions and let them know if you have any concerns or problems during the healing process.
How Much Does Dental Implant Cost?
Dental implant costs may differ from person to person. Because implant prices are the sum of the costs incurred at different stages of the treatment. Factors that determine the price of dental implant treatment include:
- Number of dental implants
- Implant, abutment, and dental veneer material
- Two-stage or single-stage implant surgery
- Side treatments such as gum infection and tooth decay
- Whether a bone graft is needed and the type of grafting material
- Frequency of visits to the dentist
- Costs associated with photography and other testing
- Dentist’s expertise
- Cost of drugs and clinical facilities
- Technologies and equipment used
You should contact the dentist and clinic to find out the exact prices.
In Which Countries is the Cheapest Dental Implant Procedure Performed?
The cost of dental implant procedures can vary widely depending on several factors, including the location of the practice, the type of implant used, and the case’s complexity. Dental implant procedures tend to be generally cheaper in countries where the cost of living is lower, labor is more affordable, and there is less regulation in the dental industry.
It’s important to note that the cost of a dental implant procedure shouldn’t be the only factor you consider when choosing a provider. You should also consider the quality of materials and techniques used and the training and experience of the dental team. It’s always a good idea to research and choose a reputable provider who can offer you high-quality care at a reasonable price. Here are the dental implant costs by country (costs calculated per tooth):
| COUNTRY | COST |
| United States | $3000 to $5000 |
| Brazil | $2100 to $3890 |
| China | $2800 to $4000 |
| Japan | $2600 to $4200 |
| South Korea | $1160 to $1960 |
| India | $1200 to $3200 |
| Argentina | $2250 to $4000 |
| Mexico | $750 to $1800 |
| Germany | $2000 to $3500 |
| Turkey | $300 to $1500 |
| Colombia | $1200 to $2750 |
| Italy | $2400 to $4000 |
| France | $2200 to $3700 |
| Spain | $2310 to $4190 |
| Taiwan | $1000 to $2500 |
| Venezuela | $650 to $1500 |
| United Kingdom | $2500 to $4600 |
| Netherlands | $2000 to $3100 |
| Egypt | $1000 to $2700 |
| Peru | $1500 to $2900 |
| AVERAGE COST | $300 to $5000 |
Attention: For Information Purposes Only
Please note that the content of this website is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should always consult a qualified dentist for personal guidance.
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