FREQUENTLY-ASKED QUESTIONS, DENTAL IMPLANTS
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are artificial roots made preferably of chemically-pure titanium, created to substitute absent or lost teeth. Once the implants have been placed in the bone of the upper or lower jaw, they are used to anchor new teeth.
How do the implants become attached to the bone?
Through a biological process called osseointegration, described by Professor Bränemark in the 1950s. During this process the body creates a bond between the implant and the bone, after which the implant and the bone are firmly attached to each other. A very important feature of this process of osseointegration is that it is very stable over time.
When are dental implants suitable and would they be a good solution for me?
Dental implants can be suitable for people of any age group, in cases of loss or absence of a tooth, various teeth or all the teeth. It should be remembered that an important advantage of implants is that lost or absent teeth can be replaced without having to damage the adjacent teeth. In other words, the neighbouring teeth are not affected.
Are there cases of implant rejection?
The vast majority of dental implants are made of surgical titanium. This material has been shown to be biocompatible, bioinert and stable and to have a great capacity for integrating with the bone, in addition to being very well-tolerated by the soft tissues (gums). Allergic reactions are therefore very unlikely. However, as part of our commitment to offer reliable and predictable solutions, for cases of allergy to titanium (fewer than 0.1%) we now offer in our clinic dental implants made of Zirconium, material with properties very similar to titanium
What success rate is there if I choose to have dental implants put in place?
In the hands of a good team of professionals and in normal situations, the average success rate is 95%. Clínica Sicilia after 20 years of experience, has a success rate of 99.8%.
Is the operation for the placement of dental implants painful?
Not at all. Dental implants are put in place through microsurgery that is minimally invasive and non-traumatic, usually under local anaesthetic (like that used for fillings, etc.). There is also the possibility of intravenous conscious sedation.
Nowadays, thanks to the latest technological advances, we can put dental implants in place without surgery (no incisions or sutures). Generally no complications arise during the postoperative period.
How long do I have to wait between the placement of the implants and the teeth?
Generalmente se esperaba entre 2 y 6 meses para que los implantes se osteointegraran y así poder colocar los dientes, dependiendo siempre de la calidad del hueso.
We have now reduced this waiting period and can put both the implants and the teeth in place on the same day, and even perform the entire process in less than an hour, with permanent teeth (Teeth in an Hour ® )
Can dental implants be put in place when there is very little bone available?
When the upper or lower jaw bone is not sufficient for secure placement of implants, we can use bone regeneration techniques using bone grafts. These techniques, which are more and more commonly used, produce very good results and make it possible to put implants in place successfully at a later date.
Does smoking affect the process of dental implant placement?
Smoking can have a very negative effect on the results. The negative effects caused by tobacco include a reduction in the blood flow to the bone and gums, a delay in the formation of scar tissue and diminished capacity for tissue repair, which favours the appearance of infections in the area.
Because of this, we now know that most cases of failure in implants occur in smokers.
