To ensure the placement and subsequent use of an implant are as natural as possible, its shape and loading capacity correspond to that of a healthy tooth. One dental implant can support one crown. In the case of two implants, three to four crowns can be attached by means of a bridge. The amount of time it takes for the bone to heal around an implant varies and depends on the quality of the bone that the implant is placed
in. Osseointegration, i.e., the complete healing of the bone around the implant, usually takes four to six months.
By placing a dental implant and then loading the surrounding bone by attaching a crown to the implant, atrophy is minimised. That’s why we recommend patients undergo implant placement no more than six months after tooth extraction.
Once a dental implant is in place, it’s protected for a period of four to six months, after
which the stability of the implant and degree of osseointegration are assessed.
A dental impression is then taken, and a crown is attached. Some patients may
have a weakened jaw and an insufficient volume of bone in which to place an
implant. In such cases, we recommend increasing the volume of bone by means of
augmentation, which involves the use of either the patient’s own bone tissue or
a pharmaceutically modified bone substitute. Augmentation is commonly performed
during implant placement. Everything is left to heal and consolidate beneath
the sutured mucosa. Augmentation is a highly reliable solution to insufficient
bone volume, and we have a 95% success rate in the acceptance of transplanted
bone by the patient’s body. A healing period of six months is required for the transplanted bone to completely integrate into the patient’s own bone tissue.
The first option for treating toothless jaws is a removable denture (so-called hybrid
denture). This is mainly suitable for patients who would have difficulty
cleaning the neck area of implants in the case of a fixed bridge. The
disadvantage to a hybrid denture is frequent maintenance, which involves
removing the denture from the mouth after each meal for cleaning and rinsing.
The fixed bridge comprises both teeth and artificial gums and is securely anchored to
dental implants in the oral cavity using screws. In the upper jaw, the bridge
is attached to a minimum of six dental implants, in the lower jaw five. Because
the bridge is secured with screws, patients generally experience a more natural
bite in as little as four weeks after fitting.
We then create a treatment plan for the patient complete with pricing and timeline. We always try to ensure that the proposed treatment plan is easily understandable, and
that the benefits and degree of difficulty are clear.
For patients who are worried about the procedure, we offer analgosedation, which greatly suppresses feelings of fear and anxiety. Antibiotics are administered according
to individual patient needs and the scope of the procedure. If necessary, we can issue a certificate of incapacity for work.
At this point, the implant has securely fused with the surrounding bone. The mucosa covering the implant is removed, and an implant healing abutment, which projects into
the oral cavity, is attached.
Once the implant has been exposed, the mucosa around the neck heals sufficiently within two to three weeks, and an impression of the implant can be taken. Next, a prosthetic pillar (abutment) is attached to the implant together with the crown or bridge.
With most bridges, such as those to treat toothless jaws, multiple visits are required,
and preparation of the final prosthesis takes longer.
We assess healing after enough time has passed for the implant to become fully integrated into the bone tissue, which generally takes four to six months. To confirm
integration of the implant into the bone tissue, we use an Osstell IDx device
to perform resonance frequency analysis based on contactless electromagnetic
pulses. Once osseointegration has been confirmed, an impression of the implant is
taken, and a crown or bridge is made.
In general, the back part of the jaw is prone to vertical bone insufficiency, whereas the front part of the jaw is prone to horizontal bone insufficiency. Increasing bone volume is carried out using the patient’s own bone tissue harvested from the back of the lower jaw, or with a bone substitute. Bone substitutes are made with either a synthetic material similar in structure to natural bone tissue, or with pharmaceutically modified animal bone tissue, from which the organic component has been removed, making it entirely safe for the patient. Both types of bone substitute have been subjected to extensive experimentation and testing, and their reliability has been validated in scientific studies as well as by many satisfied patients throughout the world.
Bone harvested from the lower jaw is superior in quality, and the procedure is very safe. The bone that provides the tissue typically regrows to 70% of its original volume. The process of harvesting bone tissue is comparable to extracting an impacted wisdom tooth. After the procedure, the patient uses a pain reliever with
antibiotics. In the first phase, the harvested bone tissue is secured to the
defective area using titanium screws and pharmaceutically modified bone
substitute. Fixation and consolidation of the bone tissue is usually complete
within six months, after which the titanium screws are removed, and a dental
implant is placed.