Dental Implants

What is Implant Treatment?

In recent years, one of the most discussed and worked-on topics in dentistry is implant treatment. Its reliability and being the most suitable alternative to natural teeth have made implant treatment a standard.

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots usually made of titanium or titanium compounds, placed in the jawbone to replace missing teeth.

Why Choose Implants?

Incorrect or inadequate oral and dental care can lead to tooth loss in oral and dental health. Tooth loss can be the root cause of many problems such as nutritional disorders, speech disorders, loss of confidence, shyness, oral health disorders, joint problems, and stomach and digestive system disorders.

In the past, bridges and dentures were used in the treatment of tooth loss. In recent years, with the development of technology and the experience gained by doctors, implant treatment has become the best solution for tooth loss.

Who Cannot Have Implants?

Implant treatment cannot be applied to individuals whose bone development is incomplete and whose jawbone is inadequate for implant application. Implant treatment may pose a risk for individuals who smoke heavily, have diabetes, heart disease, or hypertension problems.

Implants can be applied to individuals with good general health, healthy gums, sufficient bone to support implants in the jawbone, and those who maintain good oral hygiene.

Preparation Before Treatment

Pre-treatment examination and planning are important for achieving the most suitable and successful result for the patient in implant treatment.

During the examination, the jaw and bone structure are examined. The patient's general health condition is checked, and whether they are suitable for treatment is determined.

Before implant treatment, it is necessary to determine the locations of important anatomical formations in the upper and lower jaws, to see whether there is appropriate jawbone in the areas where implants will be placed, and to make a treatment plan accordingly. For this purpose, panoramic X-rays are taken from each patient, and computed tomography is taken if necessary. Then, planning is done with special computer programs.

Implant Treatment Process

Implant treatment is performed in 2 stages.

Implant Surgical Stage

In the first stage, the implant is placed into the jawbone. It is performed under local anesthesia. . The procedure time for each implant is between 5-10 minutes. After placing the temporary prosthesis on the implant, the surgical process is completed. After the placement process, the prosthesis stage can be started after waiting for about 1.5-2 months in the lower jaw and 3-4 months in the upper jaw. This waiting period is the fusion period of the implant with the bone.

Implant Prosthesis Stage

The prostheses specially prepared during planning are placed on the artificial tooth roots, i.e., implants. This process takes about 1 week.

Things to Consider

After the stages of implant treatment are completed, attention should be paid to certain issues for the process to be successful. Only soft foods should be consumed for the first 2 months. 2. Medium-hard food consumption can be started after the 2nd month. Oral hygiene should be maintained after treatment, and the instructions given by the dentist should be followed.