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Dental implants

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Dental implants have been the most drastic clinical change in odontology in the last four decades. Nowadays it is considered as the most obvious alternative when restoring individual teeth as well as many missing teeth as in a completely toothless patient. Implants are artificial roots which are fitted, imbedded or implanted into the jawbone of the patient thus creating a solid piece in which to fit the prosthetic tooth, so as to restore the deterioration or loss of function and appearance. All the materials used are biocompatible (titanium) and are designed to avoid any type of reaction or rejection when fitted into the bone. Although it means a medical operation, it is minimally invasive and it is not necessary to incise the gum to fit the implants as no scalpel or stitches are used.

It is important that before fitting these implants the exact location and direction of the prothesis is decided.


Type of prostheses

  1. 1. Single prosthesis over dental implant
    A single prosthesis is one which is screwed into a single implant to replace a missing tooth. In general these are placed between two natural teeth although on occasions there can be two implants fitted adjacent to each other.
  2. 2. Bridges over dental implants
    This type of prosthesis usually replaces three to five missing teeth. The crowns which make up the bridge are usually screwed to two or three dental implants.
  3. 3. Complete restoration over dental implants
    These restorations are done on patients who are completed edentate that is to say those who have no teeth in their dental arches. This system can also be used when extractions have occurred because of a lot of decay or advanced periodontal disease. These restorations are usually called complete fixed prostheses over dental implants. In general they are made up of between 10 and 14 teeth and are screwed to various dental implants simultaneously.
    In some cases where there is a big loss of bone structure , say because a lot of time has passed since losing the teeth or from previous infections in the area which have destroyed the bone, and only two to four implants are possible at the most, the prosthesis will be removable. This type of prosthesis over implants or teeth has a big advantage over conventional ‘false teeth’ as they are strongly joined by means of attachments or a bar to the implants and they do not move when masticating, speaking and as it is not necessary to span the palate they are much smaller and more comfortable.
    In some other cases there is not enough available bone for placement of the implants. In these cases, we have to turn to guided tissue regeneration of the bone. For this we need the help of zenografts (preparations of bone from animals such as cows, pigs or horses) with collagen membranes which work as a barrier allowing regeneration of the bone, or carrying out grafts by taking bone from other areas of that patient’s mouth. In this way it is possible to recover part of the lost bone and enable the placement of the dental implants. In such cases the required treatment time stretches to six months more than conventional treatment.

Frequently asked questions


Is it painful to have an implant fitted?

It is a simple technique and not painful at all. When we are going to fit one or two implants it is a short procedure carried out using a local anaesthetic similar to that used for a filling. However, in the case of a very nervous patient who is going to undergo complex restoration work, a general anaesthetic can be used so that they are completely relaxed during the operation.

How long does an implant last?

By following the correct procedures both at home and at the dental surgery, implants are a permanent treatment. However, in the way that periodontitis or pyorrhea happens with normal teeth, implants can be affected by periimplantitis which can mean the loss of an implant. For this reason we would emphasise that they are permanent as long as scrupulous procedures are followed.

How long does it take to get a permanent dental implant?

After the fitting of the dental implant, which is carried out during the first appointment, a visit a week after surgery is required to take out the sutures and check how the healing process is going.

From then there is a wait of three or four months if the implant is in the upper jaw, and two or three months if it is in the lower jaw. This length of time is needed for the implant to be integrated into the bone.

Once the implant is integrated into the bone, the dental prosthesis can be placed over the implant. This process usually takes another four weeks, if all the test results are perfect. And after the prosthesis has been put over the dental implant, the process is complete.

After that bi annual checks are recommended as with natural teeth to ensure that the dental implant is kept in a good condition.

Is there a risk of rejection with a dental implant?

Risks associated with dental implants may occur due to bad dental hygiene, an unfavourable bone formation or from pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or osteoporosis. This depends on medical conditions or other individual factors affecting the patient. Although there are complications, these are fairly rare, approximately 3% to 5% and when they do occur they are mild and easily treated. Often when an implant is lost, there is a wait of some months until the area is healthy and a new implant can be fitted successfully and free of charge.

What advantage do dental implants have over fixed bridges and false teeth?

In order to carry out a fixed bridge the teeth have to be reshaped or the adjacent teeth have to be lowered to the area of the missing tooth. This, which means the unnecessary loss of tooth enamel has a risk of nerve damage (which would mean the need for a root canal treatment to be carried out on the patient).

In cases where there are a lot of missing teeth, we only have two alternatives: a removable prosthesis or implants. Here the advantages of implants are obvious, as well as having a fixed prosthesis, better mastication function and appearance is achieved.

It is important to point out that by fitting implants we are helping keep the bone while using bridges or a removable prosthesis, the bone becomes thinner over time.

What are dental implants without surgery?

On occasion when we refer to “non surgical implants” we are in actual fact talking of an operation where an implant is fitted without stitches being used. For this reason, instead of calling it a “non surgical implant”, it would be better to call it minimally invasive surgery.

Using this technique, the patient has several benefits: less inflammation and post operative problems and a shorter recovery time.

Is it possible to fit the teeth the same day as the operation for dental implants?

Teeth which are fitted the day the implants are carried out are called same day implants. This technique means the surgeon can fit the implant and afterwards the temporary tooth over it. This can be immediately after or up to 48 hours later. In the case of single implants we would only advise this with the front teeth. Once the patient has the temporary crown, there is a wait of three months before fitting the permanent one, because the bone integration of the implant takes this long.

The main advantage of this technique is that the patient can have the tooth just a short time after undergoing surgery. Also we are talking of a fixed tooth not a removable prosthesis, which moves and is uncomfortable.

These advantages enable the patient to keep to their normal routine both in function- allowing them to chew and speak - as well as appearance.