Dental Implants

Missing teeth are essential to be replaced, both for functional and aesthetic reasons. There are more ways to replace missing teeth, such as dentures or dental bridges, but the best solution is using dental implants, which is a very popular treatment nowadays. Dental implants are made from titanium, which is well tolerated by bone tissue. It is called Osseo integration. A dental implant, in fact, is an artificial root portion and can support a crown, a dental bridge or a removable denture.

Your treatment will be planned following several X-rays and a thorough dental examination to find out if your bone quality and quantity is suitable for dental implants.

The procedure is carried out under local anaesthesia. The gum is cut and lifted and a small hole is drilled into the jaw-bone. The implant is fitted into this hole and the gum is sewn over the implant. In some cases a bone augmentation may be required. Once the implant has been placed, a “healing period” takes place, which is between 3 to 6 months. During this time patients are given temporary teeth, usually a temporary denture.

After the bone is healed and the implant is integrated into it perfectly, we can take care of the final permanent restoration, which is then fitted to the implant.

The number of implants required depends on the density and volume of your bone tissue and on the number of missing teeth that need to be replaced.

Circumstances where implants may not be suitable or situations that have a risk consist of:

• poor oral hygiene
• periodontal gum disease
• heavy smoking
• excessive alcohol intake