Implantology
A treatment with implants does not consist simply in the functional replacement of a lost tooth but must also respect the aesthetic requirements depending on the case and variables such as the specific physiognomy of each patient. Currently, the latest generation of zirconia for dental prosthesis provide us with a higher degree of translucency to allow us to perfectly imitate the appearance of the natural tooth.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How long can an implant treatment last?
Dental implants are designed to last in the mouth for a long time. We have patients who have had their implants for thirty years and they keep well. It is important to have good hygiene because the greatest risk of implant loss once osseointegrated in the bone is a chronic infection in the surrounding tissue called peri-implantitis. Implants affected by peri-implantitis can progressively lose their anchorage in the bone until they become detached.
Is there any way to avoid peri-implantitis?
Antibiotic and periodontal treatments to control the spread of the infection as well as regenerative treatments of the surrounding tissues are the main clinical tools we have to mitigate the effects of peri-implantitis and keep it under control. Therefore, it is very important to prevent this infection from appearing and for this it is essential to have a good hygiene of the prosthesis. In our practice we use a system called Fixpeek to prevent possible peri-implantitis, which allows fixed prostheses on implants to be easily removed in order to maintain an ideal hygiene of the fixations.
Can immediate loading implants be used in all cases?
It is not always indicated, so each case must be studied individually. The aim is always to avoid premature loading of the implants that could compromise their osseointegration, and there are various parameters that must be handled to establish the indications in each case. On the other hand, new implant designs now allow immediate loading where it was not possible to do so years ago without risk.
Will we all end up with dental implants?
The extension of life expectancy means that in many cases dental pieces do not last forever, however, improvements in dental hygiene of the population mean that some very old people still have their natural teeth. Periodontal health, hygiene, not smoking and the correct position of the teeth are key to keep the teeth. Of course we do not consider it appropriate to replace teeth if they are healthy and can be preserved, we only recommend implants in those cases clinically indicated.