Implants

What are dental implants?

Dental implant is replacement of missing teeth, which is similarly like your own teeth attached to your jaw. Dental implants are titanium screws, which are painlessly implanted directly in the jawbone. Human body accepts titanium generally very well and shortly after the surgery, in matter of few weeks, the bone becomes attached to the implant. This process is called osseointegration. Dental implant therefore replaces the root of the lost tooth. The denture is then attached to the titanium screw – either as crown or bridge – depending whether there is a need to replace just few teeth or complete denture. Cylindrical implants are used in Czech Republic from the beginning of 90s.

How does dental implant look like?

You can imagine it as a titan dental roller that has threads similar to those on a screw, which is being implanted in prepared hole in the jawbone. Everything is done painlessly under the use of local anaesthetics. If the preparation phase is too stressful for the client, we recommend the use of analgosedation or general anesthesia. Analgosedation is a state induced by combination of analgesics with sedatives, which apart from treating the pain also relaxes the muscles and relieves stress. It is also gentler to the system than general anesthesia. In SCA we use implant system of renowned Swiss company Straumann. Implant system Straumann is one of the world’s best-documented systems of its kind. There has been an extensive amount of clinical tests and research performed in the last 35 years and more than 700 research papers have been published about the topic. On top of that, Straumann gives a lifetime guarantee for all their implants.

Why to choose a dental implant?

The long-term research confirms that dental implant is very effective way to replace a tooth. Dental implants are being used for tens of years now. The biggest advantage is, that teeth, which are in immediate proximity, don’t need to be mechanically modified and grinded like they would need to be during teeth replacement by bridge, which can negatively affect teeth that are otherwise healthy.
Thanks to dental implants, clients can eat, chew and smile without any restrictions. Additionally, the prognosis for the lifespan of dental implants is very good, after 10 years in place it is still around 97%. The added benefit of new implant is also positive affect on patient’s self-confidence.

Are dental implants for everyone?

Dental implants are for everyone who would like a modern, gentle and functional tooth replacement. Exceptions are patients with diabetes, serious blood clotting disorders or strong smokers. The earliest when one can get an implant is determined by termination of jawbone growth, which is typically around the age of 15 or 16. There is no maximum age limit.

How does the preparation and treatment for dental implants look like?

The entire implementation of one dental implant takes around 45 – 90 minutes. If there is a need for modification of the size or quality of the bone (also called augmentation), there is an option to do so during the implantation or in some cases before the treatment begins. In this case, the implantation follows 4-9 months after the augmentation. After the surgery, implants are let to heal into the bone; this part usually takes 2 – 3 months. After the healing process concludes, dental implants are already firmly attached with the surrounding area of the bone and it is necessary to prepare dental alveolus for the crown of new tooth. The covering drill will be removed and replaced by healing roller that will create space in the oral mucosa. This healing roller is already visible in your mouth. Two weeks after that, healing roller will be replaced by titan extension. This entire process can take from 2 to 12 months.
In some cases, it is possible to do the implants right after the tooth extraction. This type of treatment can be considered on case-by-case basis, but the recovery might be more complicated. In some cases it might be possible to connect dental implants with temporary crowns or bridge the same day, when they were attached to the bone.
If this implantation is a case of replacing frontal teeth that are visible, the process can be speeded up and implantation can be done immediately after the loss of the tooth with temporary crown. There is a higher chance of risk of failure.

How much does dental implant cost?

The price for dental implant covers surgical and prosthetic part. The surgical part includes the surgery itself and implementation of the implant. The prosthetic part consists of creation and attachment of the dental crown and bridge.
To be able to give you a cost estimate for your dental implant, we will need to do an initial consultation with our implantologist who will perform the examination and X-rays. Based on the results, he will introduce you to different options and processes that he would recommend for you. Additionally, SCA also has its own dental laboratory so the dental technician can be present at the consultation as well and introduce you to different dental crowns and recommend the most appropriate option.

How to take care of dental implants?

Lifetime of the dental implant is influenced by number of factors, which include but is not limited to the proper hygiene, quality and volume of the jawbone and also patient’s general health. Dental hygiene is crucial in the care of dental hygiene. Dental hygienist will instruct each patient how to thoroughly clean both your teeth and dental implants by toothbrush, and how to clean interdental spaces with interdental brushes and dental floss.