Dental Implants

A dental implant is designed to mimic, as closely as possible, the root of natural teeth. Once placed, it will begin an integration process inside the bone and, as a consequence, it will prevent further bone loss. A dental implant treatment has a series of advantages, with a major impact in maintaining facial structure and gum health, as well as supporting the patient’s overall well-being. In order to ensure the ideal care plan, certain steps need to be followed, but there are two main parts of the treatment, separated by a healing and integration period.

The first stage begins at the first consultation, when our doctors will make a thorough analysis and prepare a personalized treatment plan, unique for each patient. This is when the procedure, materials and methods are fully explained. All questions will be answered before proceeding any further.

Choosing the right type of implants for each patient will be done by working through all the possibilities together with our team. Once everything is established, the session for placing the implants can be scheduled. There is no need to worry about being uncomfortable or feeling pain, because the entire procedure is done under anaesthesia. In our clinic, patients may also opt for analgosedation (or “sleep dentistry”) to reduce anxiety.

The main steps of the intervention:

• Local anaesthetic is used to numb the entire working area.
• The patient is then asked to rest for a short period of time, until the anaesthetic effect is fully installed. In the meantime, our dental assistants prepare the necessary instruments and the sterile environment in which the procedure will take place.
• Once everything is in order and the patient is comfortably seated in the dental chair, the surgeon will start by making an incision in the gum tissue, exposing the bone.
• With specially designed drills, the surgeon prepares the holes for implantation.
• The implants are inserted and checked for stability.
• Gum tissue will close over the implant with sutures. In some cases, a healing cap is placed right away, this usually means the healing time will be somewhat shorter.

A certain amount of time is needed for the implants to become integrated and for the jawbone to heal. However, the soft tissue from the intervention spot will be back to normal sooner. The length of this period varies between patients, mainly because everyone is different, but we can expect it to last about 2 to 3 months. In some cases, we may be able to suggest a type of implant compatible with immediate loading.

The patient, depending on the case, may opt for a provisional solution, which will help maintain normal function of the dental-maxillary apparatus until the new teeth are ready. As soon as the healing process is over, we can begin the second part of our plan, when the replacement teeth are manufactured in the Dental Laboratory and afterwards placed in the mouth.

The first step consists in uncovering the implants, a simple operation to remove the gingival tissue that covers them and to apply the healing caps. They will shape the gums for our future prosthetic work. When the caps have been placed directly in the implant insertion meeting, this procedure is no longer necessary, because the gum is already prepared.

We will continue by taking impressions of the patient’s current teeth or jaw, registering the exact position of the implants, as well as the relationship between the upper and the lower arch. Everything is then sent to the Dental Lab.

Our colleagues from the Dental Laboratory will work thoroughly so that the future crown, bridge or overdenture will match natural teeth in shape and colour, but also integrating them with the normal bite. To ensure a successful outcome, we work with a great team of dental technicians, who focus on biological function, but at the same time, capture natural beauty when harmonizing the new smile. Colour, translucency, luminosity and texture are extremely important in keeping the shade consistent across the arch.

When a more elaborate structure is needed for restoration or when aesthetic demand is extremely high (such as frontal teeth restorations through full ceramic or zirconia crowns and bridges), we may need a special try-in appointment, in which the new teeth are placed in the mouth and checked to see if they fit perfectly in their place and also meet our expectations.

Once everything matches our needs and the patient is happy with the result, it is time to fix the new teeth in place. This is done with specially designed screws and systems to keep the structure from moving and/or with a luting cement.

After the last appointment, there is a short period of adaptation, in which the patient will accept the prosthetic work as a natural part of his or her own body. Sometimes small adjustments can be made even at this stage, but in most cases, it is not needed.

All–on–4 / All–on–6 Implant systems

All-on-4 and All-on-6 systems are prosthetic systems designed for patients who lost all their teeth or have only teeth that need to be extracted. They can be described as a dental bridge supported by 4 or 6 implants. They restore an entire dental arch on their own, providing the patient not only with an esthetic new smile, but with a long-lasting solution that will also keep proper function in place.

The prosthetic piece is fixed to the implants with screws and it cannot be removed at home, it can be removed only by a dentist with special tools. Click on the following links to understand the necessary steps when or if you would like to read more about: dental implants or implant supported bridges.

Caring for All-on-4/All-on-6 system is similar to a dental bridge:

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day (morning and evening) and clean under the structure with a waterpik every day.
• Use the oral care products recommended by our doctors to ensure that they meet the appropriate safety and efficacy standards for your particular case.
• As with natural teeth, it is advisable to avoid extremely hard foods, chew ice or other hard objects, such as pencils or fruit kernels.
• Be sure to schedule for regular check-ups and professional teeth cleanings at our clinic.