We think that dental implants are something new that technology has been offering us for a few years now, but there is information about dental implants made from pieces of shell from the time of Ancient Egypt.
Since then, and especially in the last few years, dental implants have evolved a lot, becoming a common practice for clinics and dental practitioners.
A study carried out by Key-Stone reveals that Spain is one of the countries where more implants are placed in relation to the population. Approximately 1.6 million implants were placed in 2019 and it is understood that at least 17 million Spaniards have a dental implant. Therefore, we are talking about the fact that in Spain Implantology shows very high levels of development and therefore we have great specialists in the field.
At the Medident Dental Clinic in Torremolinos, our Dr. Álvaro Medina, together with his team, carries out implantology treatments with the latest techniques in dental implants. Our aim is that, in addition to a beautiful smile, your new dental implant will give you quality of life when chewing, speaking or laughing. In short, it will give you self-esteem and confidence in your daily life.
How do Dental Implants work?
First, we will define dental implantology as the replacement of dental pieces through the surgical placement of a dental implant in the maxilla or mandible.
The causes that can lead to the loss of these dental pieces are various: trauma or dental fracture, caries or infection that reaches the bone level and there is no other solution.
The evolution that has taken place in recent years has led us to new dental implant techniques, benefiting from new materials that do not generate immunological rejection and saving time in treatments in favour of the patient’s quality of life.
How do dental implants work?: It is a very simple system, the screw that we insert acts as a root, holding the artificial tooth which has the same appearance and functions as a real tooth. In this way we achieve a solid support for new teeth. And we carry out this operation in a completely painless way. Thanks to our equipment that guarantees a correct sedation and/or local anaesthesia, so the patient does not suffer during the process.
If you have any doubts about this treatment or to find out which would be the ideal solution for your case, do not hesitate to contact us, we offer you a state-of-the-art clinic with the latest technology.
What are Dental Implants like? How are they made?
If we consider what material dental implants are made of, the most commonly used is titanium. The latest generation of dental implants use this material, which is very similar in colour to steel, but much lighter and more mouldable. It is a material that fuses with the jawbone, preventing slippage, strange noises or damage to the patient. In addition, titanium has a very high percentage of compatibility with the human body. Through osseointegration, bone cells adapt to the screw, creating new bone around the implant.
What are dental implants made of in cases where there is incompatibility with titanium? The material used in these cases is zirconium, a ceramic material that is also used in other dental aspects such as dental crowns, bridges, root canals or brackets. Analysing the components of a dental implant, and with the idea of eliminating metals, zirconium is gaining more and more strength as it is a mineral with a high degree of resistance and biointegration.
Although it will take many years to prove that zirconium can replace titanium, in the meantime, the best dental implants will continue to be made of titanium.
What is the procedure for the placement of a Dental Implant?
The procedure for a dental implant begins with the first visit to the patient, during which the individual case is studied and the client is informed of the various steps involved in placing a dental implant.
The protocol for the placement of dental implants determines the step-by-step procedure for a dental implant:
- First, the damaged tooth is removed.
- Once the gum has healed, the dental implant operation follows, placing the titanium screw in the bone.
- Finally, the dental crown is coloured to imitate a real tooth.
How long does it take to get a dental implant? The time can be around 3-4 months, and will depend on how long it takes for the gum to recover after the extraction of the damaged tooth.
Dental implants last between 15 and 25 years. The difference between a dental implant lasting longer or shorter is the patient’s oral hygiene from the very beginning. Daily cleaning and the non-accumulation of bacterial plaque will have the function of maintaining the fixation of the implant. In certain cases it may be the case that the dental implant remains in perfect condition and it is only necessary to replace the dental crown that may have suffered wear due to use.
Types of Dental Implants
When we propose a dental treatment, we question whether it will last long or not, but if, in addition, the treatment is a dental implant, then the question is whether we can have quality of life at an aesthetic and functional level during the treatment. And by quality of life we mean that the patient is comfortable, can lead a normal daily life, eat and smile.
low-bone dental implants
Certain patients present us with cases of dental implants without bone. The lack of bone is due to gingivitis or periodontitis, or that they have been late in attending the clinic to remove the tooth that is in poor condition.
At Medident Dental Clinic we are specialists in dental implant treatments when there is no bone. Thanks to 3D digital radiography or “3D DENTAL CT” we carry out a complete study for each case.
With this innovative tool, we can carry out a digital study and even place the implant virtually before the surgical procedure. In this way, the day we perform the dental implant with bone graft, we have everything perfectly studied and prepared for the operation to be a success. If you think that, in your case, a dental implant does not apply due to lack of bone, do not hesitate to consult us, we are experts.
Immediate load dental implants
With immediate load dental implants, we treat one or more teeth that need to be replaced because they are in poor condition or have fractured. It involves placing dental implants without surgery, and in the same session we remove the teeth, heal the area and place the implants in the same clinical session. In most cases it is also possible to leave a fixed dental prosthesis in place, the technique known as “immediate loading”.
Our team is a specialist in this technique, so we ensure that the patient feels comfortable and safe from the first moment of treatment.
Dental implants in one day
With the ALL ON 4 “TEETH IN ONE DAY” technique, Dr. Alvaro Medina is a specialist in placing dental implants in one day.
Do you think it is possible to place dental implants for the whole mouth in just one day? With the implantological study and the 3D X-ray that our team carries out in advance, yes, it is possible.
This technique is applied in cases where all the teeth have been lost or it is necessary to extract them because they have lost their functionality or are not aesthetic. We start with the extraction of the remaining teeth, prepare the area and place the dental implants with screws.
From there, the measurements and design of the smile are taken and transferred to the laboratory so that the fixed prosthesis can be made and fitted to the patient on the same day.
In this way we achieve immediate dental implants, thanks to technology and our specialists.
Other types of dental implants
Bar dental implants, metal-free dental implants, dental implants with graphene, zirconium dental implants, hybrid dental implants… you will have heard of all kinds of dental implants.
We are going to distinguish the types of dental implants according to different variables:
By the material they are made of:
- Titanium dental implants: currently the most widely used by dentists due to their osseointegration and optimum treatment results.
- Zirconium dental implants: we have already talked about them in the explanation, a material that is increasingly in use and widespread in the treatment of dental implants.
- Graphene dental implants: a material that has recently begun to be studied for use in dental implants due to its strength, structural stability and flexibility. A material we are sure to talk more about in the future.
How they are placed:
- Osseointegrated: they are placed directly in the bone. In this case, the dental implant with screw is the most common.
- Subperiosteal: a way of placing implants that is increasingly out of use as they are used in cases where there is practically no bone. We have already seen that nowadays there are easier solutions than this system to overcome the problem of the lack of bone.
By techniques for placing the implant:
- CSP technique: this is applied if there is bone and consists of making a simple hole in the gum to place the implant correctly.
- All on 4 technique: already mentioned above, one of our specialities for placing several implants in a single session.
By techniques for placing the tooth on top of the implant:
- Screw-retained prosthesis: the tooth is screwed to the implant.
- Cemented: cement is used to attach the prosthesis to the implant.
- Mixed technique or hybrid dental implant: consists of cementing the prosthesis on a screwed abutment.
Summary and conclusions
As we have been saying throughout the article, the benefits of dental implants are numerous: it is a completely painless intervention with which you will recover your self-esteem and quality of life.
Daily activities such as talking, eating or smiling will once again be something you can do naturally, without forcing or hiding anything.
The evolution in materials and techniques has even led us to the technique of dental implants in one day, with all the comforts that it represents for the patient to leave the clinic with teeth on the same day that the treatment is carried out.
We remind you that at the Medident dental clinic, the team specialising in Implantology, led by Dr. Álvaro Medina, is at your disposal for any queries you may have.