5 Most Frequently Asked Questions About Implants

Is there an age limit for the implant, who can have an implant?

dental implants; They are titanium screws placed into the jawbone to complete the missing teeth. Implants can be applied to any individual who has sufficient bone for implant placement, does not have any systemic disease that may affect the implant process, and has completed bone development. Although there is no upper age limit for implant construction, the lower age limit varies according to the bone development of the person, but it is around 17-18 years old on average.

How long does it take to make an implant?

The process of making an implant takes an average of 10 minutes for an implant. Within 10 minutes, the patient can get an implant painlessly and get up from the chair. However, placing a tooth on top of the implant is a separate process. In order for the tooth to be placed on the implant placed in the jawbone and for the implant to be used comfortably for a lifetime, the implant should be expected to connect with the bone. This is an average of 3-4 months. However, after the implant-bone connection is completed, a prosthesis can be applied on the implant and it can be expected to carry the chewing forces. In anterior areas without much chewing force and single tooth deficiencies, teeth can be placed on the implant without waiting for the implant-bone connection.

Can a bridge be made instead of an implant?

Let’s consider the Bosphorus Bridge. It connects the two sides with one foot on the Asian and European sides. In order to make a bridge prosthesis in the mouth, there must be a tooth both in front and behind the missing tooth. However, if there is no tooth behind or in front of the missing tooth area, bridge prosthesis cannot be made in that area and it is mandatory to make an implant to close the missing tooth in this area.

Even if there are healthy teeth in front of and behind the missing tooth area, it is still more advantageous than the implant bridge prosthesis. Because the implant treatment lasts longer, the missing tooth is completed without interfering with healthy teeth, it prevents the jawbone from melting as a result of tooth deficiency, and the chewing power is greater. For these reasons, implant treatment is always more advantageous than bridge prosthesis and is a cheaper treatment option considering that it can be used for a lifetime.

What are the common features of the best implant brands? How do we distinguish between a good or a bad implant?

There are different companies and different quality implants in the dental implant industry. 99% of them are made of the same material, namely titanium. So what is the difference? In the implant sector, there are companies that have developed themselves by experiencing every complication for many years and produced solutions to all possible problems. Other companies imitate what these companies do. The most important difference between good implants and bad implants is their capacity to fuse with bone. Among patients, this is known as bone refusal to accept the implant. The greater the capacity of an implant to form a connection with bone, the better it attaches to bone and minimizes the risk of complications.

In addition, today, many implant companies can withdraw from the market or leave the country market. Or, it may be difficult to reach the physician who applied the implant for various reasons in the future. However, since implants remain in the jawbone for a lifetime, implant-related parts may be needed even after 20-30 years. Since the applied implant cannot be seen by the patient, patients cannot know which brand of implant is used. During implant treatment, patients must request the brand, diameter and height certificate of the implant.

What are the problems that can occur with bad applications?

If good planning is not done during implant placement, anatomically important tissues in the region or neighboring teeth may be damaged, infections may occur if sterilization problems occur, problems may occur in the prosthesis phase due to poor implant position, bone-implant connection may not occur. In this case, while some problems can be solved, some cannot be solved and permanent damage may occur. Therefore, it is recommended that implant treatment be performed by a specialist in clinics specialized in implant treatment, by choosing good implant brands and not being cheap.

Mecidiyekoy Hospitadent

Oral, Dental and Maxillofacial Surgeon Specialist

Dr. Ümit SELÇUK