Implantology

Fixpeek® Dual Fixed Prosthesis

One of the greatest challenges posed by implant-supported fixed prostheses is their hygiene. In order to ensure the long life of the implants and to prevent inflammation or infection of the implants, proper hygiene must be ensured. This can often be complicated, especially in cases of full arch fixed prostheses, since their removal is not simple and requires the intervention of the dentist, who must unscrew the structure or decement it in order to extract it. With the passage of time and if hygiene and periodic check-ups are not regular, chronic inflammation problems can occur that threaten the fastening of the implant to the bone and end up causing it to fail. This is the case of peri-implantitis.

In our clinic we have more than 25 years of experience in this type of complete rehabilitations and it has always been our concern to find a way to minimize the risk of peri-implantitis. Until recently the tools were a good daily hygiene with dental irrigators and periodic check-ups, but nowadays we have a dual fixation system called FixPeek.

Fixpeek allows us to fix the prosthesis in such a way that, being fixed, it can be easily removed to offer the patient a greater autonomy over his dental prosthesis and a better hygiene of the same.

FixPeek can be used in any implant treatment, whether they are complete structures such as bridges or single teeth.

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.