What is Dental Implant Treatment?
Dental implants are biocompatible titanium screws placed in the jawbone to replace teeth lost due to incurable cavities, fractures, advanced gum problems, trauma, or systemic diseases. These screws, which take over the function of the tooth root, restore lost aesthetics and chewing function. In our clinic, in addition to treating single tooth loss, we offer “All on Four,” “All on Six,” and “All on Eight” concepts, providing fixed crowns instead of removable dentures for patients with no teeth, maximizing their quality of life.
Who is it suitable for?
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All adult patients with complete jaw and facial development and no general health problems,
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Those who are missing one or more teeth and want to fill these gaps without cutting down their adjacent healthy teeth (without having a bridge made),
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This implant is suitable for patients who are completely edentulous and suffer from loosening, dislodgement, or chewing difficulties with removable total (full dentures) used in the upper or lower jaw. (Patients with systemic disorders may undergo implant treatment with the approval of their medical doctor and with special precautions.)
How does the treatment process progress?
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Examination and Radiological Planning: Clinical intraoral examination and dental tomography (3D X-ray) are used to precisely assess the density, height, and thickness of the jawbone, and a treatment plan is then developed.
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Surgical Procedure: Under local anesthesia, titanium implants are painlessly placed into the jawbone. If all conditions are suitable, the placement of one implant takes as little as 3-5 minutes. In appropriate cases, implant placement (immediate implant) can be performed in the same session as tooth extraction.
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Healing (Fusion) Process: Depending on the implant brand used, bone quality, and the patient’s health condition, a waiting period of 0 to 6 months may be expected for the implant to fully fuse with the jawbone (osteointegration). Temporary prostheses are prepared during this period to prevent the patient from being without teeth.
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Prosthetic Phase: After the healing process is complete, custom-made permanent porcelain or zirconium teeth are placed on the implants, finalizing the treatment.
Things to Consider Before Treatment
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The patient’s general health status and medications they are taking (especially medications for blood pressure, diabetes, or osteoporosis, as well as blood thinners) must be fully disclosed to the doctor before the operation.
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Severe gum disease negatively affects the success of implants; therefore, oral hygiene should be optimized and existing gum infections treated before the operation.
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Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors that delays wound healing and makes it more difficult for the implant to integrate with the bone. Smoking should be limited or completely stopped before and after treatment.
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It should be noted that in cases of insufficient bone volume, bone graft applications, either concurrently with or prior to implant placement, may be necessary to prepare the area for implantation.
Things to Consider After Treatment
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Recovery Period: Mild swelling and pain may occur in the first few days after the operation. To minimize this, ice compresses should be applied intermittently for the first 24 hours, and the pain relievers or antibiotics prescribed by your doctor should be taken without interruption.
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Nutrition: In the first few days after the operation, very hot, cold, hard, and grainy foods should be avoided; lukewarm and soft foods should be consumed.
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Oral Care: For implants to remain healthy in the mouth for many years, meticulous oral hygiene, just like with natural teeth, is essential. In addition to brushing, interdental brushes and dental floss should always be used.
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Preventive Measures: Patients with a habit of teeth clenching or grinding (bruxism) must use night guards as recommended by their dentist to prevent excessive stress on the porcelain crowns supported by implants.
1. Will I feel any pain or discomfort during the operation?
Absolutely not. Implant procedures are performed under local anesthesia. Bone tissue is much easier to numb than tooth tissue. Therefore, our patients feel no pain during the procedure. Any mild discomfort that may occur after the operation is easily relieved with routine painkillers.
2. Why should I get implants instead of bridge treatment?
The biggest advantage of implant treatment is that the healthy teeth next to the gap are not touched at all. In bridge construction, the adjacent healthy teeth need to be cut and reduced in size. Furthermore, the jawbone resorbs over time when it is not used (when there are no teeth). Implants stop and protect bone resorption by transmitting chewing forces back to the bone in that area.
3. When will my teeth be fitted after the implant procedure?
This depends on bone density, the type of procedure performed, and the primary stability (initial attachment) strength of the implant. If conditions are suitable, permanent or temporary teeth can be fitted on the same day the implant is placed (immediate loading). If, due to bone quality, it is necessary to wait for the fusion process, temporary prostheses are provided to address the aesthetic deficiency, and permanent teeth are fitted a few months later.
4. How can I tell if my bone is suitable for an implant?
Following a detailed intraoral examination at the clinic, the thickness, density, and distance of the jawbone to nerves are examined with millimeter precision using three-dimensional dental tomography (CBCT), the most accurate diagnostic method. Based on these radiological findings, the suitability of the bone for implant placement is clearly determined.