Dental implantology is the branch of dentistry that deals with the replacement of missing teeth using ‘artificial roots’ of titanium alloy that osseointegrate with the bone of the patient.
Modern implantology was born in the 1970s thanks to studies carried out by Professor Branemark in Sweden.
Today, thanks to a proper surgical protocol and special treatment for the implant surface, we achieve osseointegration of implants with a 98-99% success rate among the cases that we treat.
The surgery is painless; it’s performed in sterile conditions, with antibiotic coverage, usually under local anaesthesia, but conscious sedation can also be used at the patient’s request. After a period of 3 to 6 months, the prosthesis can be inserted. At the end of the intervention, the patient is given post-operation recommendations to avoid discomfort and swelling in the operated area. Then, after 7-10 days, the stitches are removed.
Are there health conditions that may limit the use of implants?
Except in very rare cases (cancer patients, patients undergoing radiation therapy of the head or neck) there are no contraindications for implants. In cases where there has been significant bone loss that inhibits the insertion of a sufficiently sized implant to ensure long-term stability for the prosthesis, the process would include regeneration of the missing bone before or at the same time as the implantation.
Is there the possibility of rejection?
There is no possibility of the implant being rejected. The titanium alloy used is biocompatible. The very rare case of implant loss (1% of the cases) is a phenomenon caused by bacterial contamination of the implant surface. If this occurs, the non-osseointegrated implant should be removed and replaced with another implant.
The aesthetic result?
Excellent, natural. When the biological principles that are imperative to the health and delicate balance of the mucosa around the implants are observed, it is very difficult to distinguish a natural tooth from a dental prosthesis in an implant with the naked eye.