Dental implants replace one or more missing teeth

Dental implants can replace one or more missing teeth. They replace the root of the tooth, embedded in the jaw bone and have a porcelain crown attached by a dentist. In this way, the dentist can reconstruct the whole tooth.

Depending on the type of tooth loss, the dentist will perform a specific technique (crown, bridge, prosthesis). The dentist will always preserve the neighbouring teeth.

• Singular edentulism: One tooth is missing between two healthy teeth.
• Partial edentulism: Multiple teeth are missing between two healthy teeth.
• Posterior partial edentulism: The missing teeth are located at the back of the lower or upper jaw.
• Complete edentulism: All of the teeth are missing.

Dental implants are particularly suited to helping avoid all the problems associated with dentures.

The procedure is carried out in an operating room under local or general anaesthetic depending on the number of teeth to be replaced.

Dental implantation is based on the principle of osseointegration. After a period of three to six months, the titanium screw placed in the jaw becomes fixed into the bone. This means it becomes a solid support for a crown to be fixed on so that the tooth can be reconstructed.

Using a clinical or radiological examination, the dentist can assess the bone mass available in the jaw, into which the implant can be inserted.

Implantation phase

The dentist opens up the gum and uses small drills of different diameters to dig into the jawbone to create the space needed to insert the dental implant. Then they will close up the gum with some stitches. During the 3 to 6 months of healing, the implant will gradually be integrated into the maxillary bone and the gum.

Prosthetic phase

The dentist places the permanent crown on a fixture that acts as an attachment point between the implant and the tooth. If many teeth are being replaced, the practitioner uses a full porcelain bridge fixed to a limited number of dental implants which will allow the entire edentulous area to be covered without filling each missing tooth with an implant.

After dental implant placement

The dentist will carry out regular checks on the dental implants, particularly in terms of the integration into the bone and to assess whether the implant has been rejected or if the artificial teeth have become attached to the healthy teeth which happens in very rare cases.

It is not painful during or after the dental implants are put in place. For three or four days after the procedure, the patient may eat soft foods. In most cases, they can restart all activities as normal the day after the procedure.

The new tooth, consisting of the dental implant and the crown provides comfort levels similar to natural teeth. The person can smile without being embarrassment.

As well as the aesthetic side, dental implants also support the whole dentition and address problems associated with tooth loss such as jaw bone loss, dental migration or decreased chewing ability.

Dental implants last more than 20 years.