What is implant surgery?

It is the branch of oral surgery that deals with replacing lost teeth with endosseous implants made of titanium alloys, that is, with screw-shaped structures permanently inserted into the jawbones to support new teeth that will replace the lost ones.

Titanium is a biocompatible and bio-inert metal that, in the space of two to three months, becomes one with the bone that surrounds it (the process is called osseointegration).

Once osseointegrated, the implants become extremely stable and the missing teeth can be screwed or cemented onto them (from a single tooth to the entire dental arch, both above and below). In special cases, it is also possible to insert implants and fit the teeth on the same day.

This technique is very safe and supported by 40 years of experience worldwide.

Who needs implants?

All people who are missing one or more teeth and who do not want bridges mounted on healthy natural teeth and do not want to wear removable prostheses/dentures. The loss of one or more teeth during life is far from rare.

With the improvement of the general health of the population, prevention campaigns, and the improvement of the quality of life, the average age is destined to continue to increase and therefore the probability that in adulthood and advanced age some or all teeth will be lost increases, creating the need for their replacement.

The most frequent causes are represented by periodontal disease (what was once called pyorrhea), neglected cavities, and last but not least, incorrect therapy by unscrupulous professionals.

In the past, missing teeth were solved either with fixed prostheses anchored to the remaining teeth (bridges) or with removable prostheses (dentures and skeletons). The first type of treatment involves anchoring a fixed bridge to the teeth near the affected area, which are filed down to support the bridges: when the nearby teeth are healthy, this may not be appreciated by patients.

The second type of treatment involves the presence of removable prostheses in the mouth: this solution can also immediately cause significant functional and psychological problems.

Implants offer the possibility of intervening only where teeth are missing, without touching adjacent teeth, which may be perfectly healthy, and avoid all the problems associated with removable prostheses.

What are the phases of a treatment with implants?

Before starting, it is a good idea to have a general dental examination, which also includes taking x-rays to assess the condition of the teeth that are still in the mouth, the possible presence of gingivitis or periodontal disease (what was once called pyorrhea), the quality of any prosthetic work already present in the mouth, the level of oral hygiene, the type of occlusion of the teeth between them.

During the first visit, information will also be collected to exclude other types of pathologies (for example, severe diabetes, a recent heart attack, the use of particular medications) that contraindicate implant surgery.

Once it has been established that there are general and local conditions of the mouth that are favorable for inserting the implants, it is a good idea to evaluate with a visit and x-rays whether there is a sufficient quantity of bone to accommodate the implants.

To optimize the initial assessment, it is often advisable to take impressions of the two dental arches and prepare plaster models. A study can be performed on these models (which is done in collaboration with a dental technician) to simulate the ideal position and shape of the missing tooth(s).

Furthermore, the plaster models can be used to build so-called diagnostic masks, which are nothing more than small mobile devices that are placed in the mouth when a CT scan is performed to evaluate the quality and quantity of the bone that must receive the implants.

Thanks to these tests, the position, length and diameter of the most suitable implant can be precisely assessed. Once the presence of local and general conditions favorable to the insertion of the implants has been confirmed, the intervention can be scheduled.

In most cases, the insertion of implants is performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis, even if in sterile conditions, to ensure the absence of contamination.

Only when many implants need to be inserted at once (for example, in people who have lost all their teeth) or in patients who are afraid (so-called dental phobic patients) or in patients with less than optimal general conditions may other forms of anesthesia be necessary, such as local anesthesia combined with sedation or general anesthesia.

In favorable cases, it is possible to screw or cement the teeth onto the implants within 12-24 hours; in other cases, the patient will have to wait about two months before starting the prosthetic rehabilitation. During the waiting phase, the patient will wear temporary prostheses that allow a completely normal life.

The patient will then be given some documents containing all the details regarding the various phases of treatment, preparation for the operation and how to manage the post-operation period.