Dental Implants
A dental implant takes the place of a missing tooth. A typical implant consists of a self-tapping titanium screw with a roughened surface, on top of which is placed a dental crown.
The combination of implant and crown is usually placed in two separate visits to the dentist, separated by 4 to 6 months of waiting. This is called a two-stage dental implant and they have been on the market since about 1990.
A newer type of implant called an instant load dental implant can accept a crown within a few days of the implant placement. However, instant load dental implants are quite new and have not yet been adopted by the majority of dentists.
Several steps are necessary to place the implant.
Steps in Dental Implantation:
- Extraction of old tooth (if necessary)
- Implant material
- Implant placement
- Post and core build-up (if necessary)
- Temporary crown
Plus the follow-up visit a few months later, if using a two-stage implant:
- Removal of temporary crown
- Crown material, custom-fit
- Crown placement
During the first visit, the process of placing an implant is done under a local anaesthetic. The dentist drills a pilot hole, then uses successively wider drills to enlarge the hole. A cooling spray is used to ensure the bone does not overheat and cause cellular damage. Care must also be taken to not touch or implant nerves in the gum. The implant screw is usually self-tapping and is placed with precision. A build-up of materials may be applied to ensure a better fit and to encourage the gum to grow back in a natural fashion.
Here is where the difference in opinion takes place. Most dentists use the classic two-stage implant, rather than the instant loading type. Why?
Most dentists say the gum will be swollen after the implant placement. This means if a crown is placed right after the implant, it will not fit properly once the gum swelling has decreased and this leads to problems. So, most dentists place a temporary crown on top of the implant. Also, the bone must heal from the surgery and the implant must be chemically integrated into your jaw bone, a process called osseointegration. Some metals are better tolerated by our bodies and for this reason, titanium implants are usually recommended. Osseointegration can take from three to six months, depending on the profile of the implant.
Despite this reasoning, some dental implant manufacturers now offer instant loading dental implants which do not require the waiting period. They allow the second visit for crown placement to take place within a few days.
Whichever type of implant is used, during the second visit, the temporary crown is taken off and the permanent crown is placed. This type of crown costs more than a standard crown which is placed on top of an existing tooth.
Because implants require two visits, be clear on what the dentist is including when they quote for an implant. Some dentists may be quoting on the surgery and implant only, and may or may not include the temporary crown. Other dentists will be including all the steps of an implant, including the temporary and the permanent crown.
Remember that if you are traveling overseas for an implant, two trips will likely be necessary which will impact the budget.
Top quality dental implants are made in different European countries, the USA, and Canada. Some dental implant manufacturers guarantee their implants for 10 years or more. However as with all dental work, much depends on your own standard of daily dental care.
Who is Placing your Implant?
The successful placement of dental implants is a complex procedure. Dental implant manufacturers offer courses for general dentists to learn how to use implants, but many of these courses are only a few days in length. We at Tooth Tourism believe it is far better to ask a specialist such as a Prosthodontist or Implantologist to perform the work. Consider asking how many implants your dentist has placed.
