Dental Implants
Many people experience tooth loss from a young age as a result of dental caries, periodontal disease, or external factors. When dentistry was not that advanced yet, the only two solutions offered for these tooth losses were dental bridges or dentures. Today, dental implants have been replaced these old-fashioned dental treatments.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are screws made of titanium that are placed in the jawbone to replace the lost teeth. These titanium screws act as artificial tooth roots. Dental implants are customized to adapt to the natural tooth structure of each patient. Once the implant roots are fused to the jawbone, which takes about 3 months, fixed or removable teeth are placed on them.
Dental implants have many aesthetic and functional advantages. Implants that look like your own teeth, in addition to offering a perfect and natural look, also give the feeling of natural teeth. Implant roots, which are perfectly fused to the chin and made of a strong material such as titanium, are very permanent and durable. As long as attention is paid to oral and dental health, and hygiene rules, dental implants can be used for as long as 20-30 years.
Dental implants improve the patient’s social and professional life by helping them get rid of the self-confidence problems caused by the missing teeth. It also improves oral health, as it does not damage the neighboring teeth and does not change their form.
How Successful Are Dental Implant Treatments?
Dental implants have an average success rate of 98%. However, there are important factors that affect this success rate, such as choosing the right dentist and clinic, the quality of the material used, equipment, and hygiene.
In Which Cases Dental Implant Treatments Are Used?
-In a single missing tooth, -In multiple missing teeth, -In complete toothlessness.
Are Dental Implants Suitable for Everyone?
Dental implant treatment can be applied to anyone who is in good general health and can handle routine oral surgery. For a successful treatment, the patient must have sufficient bone and healthy gum. Patients who have had implant treatment should take extra care of their teeth and should not disrupt their routine dentist visits. The implant teeth should be cleaned thoroughly by using dental floss, interface brushes, and mouthwashes, apart from regular brushing. Smokers should remove smoking from their lives as of the treatment process; otherwise, the treatment process may be adversely affected.
There is no upper age limit for a dental implant procedure, although the lower age limit is 18.
How Is the Dental Implant Procedure Done?
The dental implant procedure consists of two stages. In the first stage, the implants are placed in the jaw. This is a surgical procedure and takes about 10 minutes to place a single implant root. Once the implant roots are placed, a waiting period of 8-12 weeks begins. After the screws are completely fused to the jaw, the second stage of the procedure is started. The prosthetic teeth are placed on the screws at this stage. It may take up to 1 week depending on the number and condition of the teeth to be processed.