In this blog post, we will look at the possibilities and limitations of whether implant surgery can be established as a safe treatment to replace damaged teeth.
As we enter an aging society, interest in bone health is increasing. In particular, dental health is directly related to an essential diet, so it has become a major concern not only for the elderly but also for young and middle-aged people. As a result, technologies that restore the functions of old or worn-out teeth have become important, and one of them is implant technology, which is called the “third tooth.”
Implant placement is similar to building a building. In architecture, after the skeleton of a building is built, the steel frame is filled with cement. In implant dentistry, a fixture made of a material that adheres well to bone is placed in the jawbone and covered with gums. Once the fixture is fixed to the jawbone, it becomes a solid state. After the surgery, which takes about an hour, the artificial prosthetic crown can be used as a new tooth. The bridge technique used before implants requires the treatment of both the teeth on either side of the surgical site, but implant surgery has the advantage of being able to precisely treat only the damaged area.
Just as a blueprint is essential when building a house, it is important to thoroughly check the patient’s dental condition before implant surgery. Not everyone can receive the procedure just because their teeth are damaged. This is because the condition of the jawbone, the bone of the gums, and the gums determine the direction of the procedure. If the bone of the gums is insufficient, bone grafting must be performed before the procedure, and if the condition of the existing teeth is poor, tooth extraction may be required. X-rays are taken to check for this, and if the patient has a disease, it can be difficult to perform the implant procedure. In particularly severe cases, the procedure itself may not be possible.
Before the implant procedure, the jawbone must be enlarged to increase the volume of the jawbone to accommodate the implant. If this process is not followed, it may be difficult to place the fixture. Therefore, the procedure begins by increasing the volume of the jawbone through drilling before the surgery. Fixators are made of metal, ceramic, polymer, and composite materials, all of which bond well with the jawbone. Titanium is often used because it does not cause inflammation of the gums.
There are two main methods of implant surgery. The first is a one-time surgery, in which the implant is covered with the gums while the support is visible. The second is a two-time surgery, in which the implant is placed through two surgeries. In the two-time surgery, the gums are covered so that the fixture is not visible, and a recovery period of two to three months is required. After that, the doctor checks whether the fixture and the bone are well-bonded, inserts the abutment, and sutures the gums again. In both methods, the procedure is completed by covering the crown, which is an artificial prosthesis. The crown is made of porcelain in the shape of a tooth and is fixed with a bolt when inserted.
Implants can be divided into two types, depending on the area of the procedure: endosseous implants and osseous-penetrating implants. The most commonly used method is the endosteal implant, which is a method of implanting a post without penetrating the jawbone, unlike the transgingival method. In addition, depending on the shape of the fixture, it is divided into a braided type, a cylinder type, and a screw type, of which the screw type is the most commonly used. Generally, an implant procedure takes about an hour, but it may take longer depending on the patient’s oral condition.
Just as the condition before the procedure affects the start and progress of the procedure, the health condition after the procedure also has a significant impact on the duration of implant maintenance. Various diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, have an adverse effect on the recovery process after the procedure, and osteoporosis in particular prevents the fixture and bone from bonding firmly. Just as a building requires regular maintenance even after it is completed, patients who have undergone implant surgery also need ongoing care. Smoking and drinking alcohol can slow down or prevent recovery after the procedure, so they should be avoided. This is true even before the implant procedure.
In most cases, patients need to undergo a second surgery after the initial surgery due to infection. If the surgical site is not kept clean, recovery will be delayed and the possibility of complications will increase. Therefore, it is important for the patient to take care of themselves as well as to receive accurate diagnosis and treatment from the doctor. In particular, the oral environment is humid and bacteria easily grow in it, so thorough oral care is necessary. It is also recommended to avoid hard foods as they can damage the prosthesis.
Irritation and swelling of the treated area, as well as discoloration of the skin, may occur occasionally, regardless of patient care after the procedure. This usually resolves on its own, but in severe cases, it can lead to permanent disability. A typical example is nerve damage. The lower jaw has a nerve canal that is responsible for chewing, and if the nerve canal is damaged during surgery, the sensation around the jaw may be lost. To prevent this, the length of the material must be selected correctly and the nerve canal must not be damaged during the drilling process. Another example is maxillary sinus injury. This is when a hole is made in the maxillary sinus during the procedure for the upper jaw molars, and as with nerve canal injury, accurate calculations are required before the procedure. In rare cases, the prosthetic device may shake or the screws may loosen after the procedure. This may be due to the incorrect direction or shape of the implant, and a reoperation may be required.
The purpose of implant surgery is not simply to replace damaged teeth. It is a process to restore the function of existing teeth by implanting new teeth. The procedure can only be successfully completed when the patient’s ongoing care and the doctor’s cooperation are in harmony. Well-maintained implants can be used for nearly 20 years, and they are the result of a combination of the dentist’s treatment and the patient’s care.
Implant surgery is still expensive, and it is not a technology that is fully understood and trusted by the general public. However, implant technology is advancing, and more diverse treatments will be developed in the future. As a result, the accuracy of the procedure and the patient’s confidence are expected to increase.
