Oral implantology deals with placing implants to replace lost teeth and improve chewing, speech and appearance. The success of an implant depends on the quality of the implant, the quality of the bone, the placement technique and the patient’s cooperation before, during and after the procedure.
Who is a candidate for implants?
Candidates are patients missing one, several or all of their teeth. If the examination shows poor oral hygiene, teeth grinding (bruxism), poor bone quality or other oral diseases, implants are not recommended until these conditions have been resolved.
A successful implant needs:
- enough height of the alveolar ridge, meaning enough distance from the anatomical structures of the jaw (the sinus in the upper jaw, the mandibular canal in the lower jaw)
- enough width of the ridge
- adequate bone density
Which solution is right for you?
- One tooth missing: an implant is the best solution, because the two neighbouring teeth do not have to be ground down for a bridge.
- Several teeth missing: implants support the future fixed restoration.
- All teeth missing: with All-on-4 or All-on-6, four or six implants carry a fixed restoration, giving full aesthetic and functional rehabilitation without a complete denture.
What placement involves
- The implant is placed under local anaesthetic and the procedure is completely painless. It can be placed right after an extraction, 4–8 weeks later or after six months of healing.
- Then comes osseointegration, the period in which the implant fuses with the bone.
- Once it has fused, a check-up X-ray is taken, the implant is uncovered and a gum former is fitted for 2 to 5 weeks.
- When the gums have healed, an impression is taken and a working model is cast.
- Finally, the definitive fixed restoration, a crown or bridge, is made according to the treatment plan.
Implants at Erić Dental Centar
The dentists at Erić Dental Centar have many years of experience in oral surgery. We use implants from the renowned brands IRES, Zimmer and Straumann, which means both good aesthetics and long-lasting function for your new teeth. Whether your case is simple or needs a more complex rehabilitation, we plan treatment around your needs.
All the options, from a single implant to a Hollywood smile, are described on the dental implants page.
