What is a Dental Implant?
Implant treatment, which is used to replace missing teeth, is a
protective application as it is performed without any intervention
to other teeth remaining in the mouth. In terms of chewing function,
a dental implant provides a better chewing ability compared to other
prostheses, as it exerts similar force as a natural tooth.
How is implant treatment performed?
Implant treatment is generally performed while the patient is awake,
only by numbing the relevant area. Although implant placement is a
surgical procedure, for most patients, placing an implant is faster
and more comfortable than extracting a tooth.
In what cases is the implant applied?
Implant is a type of prosthesis that can be applied to the area
where permanent teeth are missing, imitates the tooth root and aims
to restore the aesthetics and chewing ability there. If there is
enough space in the jawbone, it can be successfully applied to
almost all missing teeth. Apart from this, implant treatment is also
applied to increase the retention of "movable complete dentures",
also known as "palate prosthesis" among the public, and thus to
increase the comfort of the patient. Nowadays, "movable or fixed
(i.e. removable or non-removable) implant-retained prostheses" are
preferred even in patients who have lost all their teeth. A dental
implant can be placed in the same session immediately following the
extraction of the tooth, or it can be placed approximately 2-3
months later, waiting for the healing of the extraction area to be
completed.
İmplant sonrası ağız bakımı nasıl olmalıdır?
İmplantları olan hastalar, tıpkı dolguları ve protezleri olan diğer
hastalar gibi ağız bakımına özel bir önem göstermek zorundadırlar.
Dişlerini ve implant destekli protezlerini günde en az iki defa
fırçalamalı, diş ve implant aralarını diş ipi ya da ara yüz
fırçaları yardımıyla temizlemelidirler. Bunun da ötesinde, diş
hekimlerinin önerisi doğrultusundaki kontrollerini atlamamaya özen
göstermelidirler.
Do implants cause allergies or cancer?
One of the most frequently asked questions by our patients is
whether the implant is allergic to allergies. or whether it causes
cancer. There is no evidence in the research that the implant is
carcinogenic. Currently, dental implants are produced from a metal
called titanium, which is highly biocompatible with the body. In
addition, orthopedic titanium implants have been used successfully
in other bones of the body for many years. Coming to the issue of
allergies, it has been shown that they can rarely cause allergic
reactions in individuals who are very sensitive in this regard or
who are intensely allergic to other metals. Frankly, I have never
encountered such a situation in any of my patients.
Is there an age limit for implant applications?
Although there is no clear age limit for implant treatment, waiting
for the completion of adolescence is a preferred approach. Even if
the structure of the bones changes with advancing age, this does not
constitute an obstacle to implant construction. So our age range is
quite wide.
How long does it take to wait for a crown (upper part of the
tooth) to be placed on the implant?
The routine duration is on average 3-4 months. However, depending on
the hardness of the bone, this period may take 1-2 months longer.
If more than one implant is to be made, are they all done in the
same session?
This actually depends on the preference of the patient and then the
physician. While some patients want to complete their treatment in
short but multiple sessions, others prefer to complete the entire
treatment in a single session. However, there is no harm in placing
all implants in the same session.
Is it possible to use an implant for life?
Yes, just like our teeth, we can neglect our implants and lose them
early, or we can use them for a lifetime by taking good care of
them.
Why should implants be preferred over bridges to replace missing
teeth?
Bridge prostheses are prostheses that require the teeth in front and
behind the toothless spaces to be cut and reduced and connect the
two sides of the space together thanks to the support of these
teeth. In implant-supported dentures, since the support is provided
by a dental implant that imitates the tooth root, there is no need
to cut and cover the adjacent teeth. For this reason, in terms of
other teeth remaining in the mouth, choosing implant-supported
dentures rather than bridge dentures appears to be a more protective
treatment option. Therefore, if applicable, we definitely recommend
implant treatment as the first option for our patients with missing
teeth.
