Dental Implants

In most cases, the procedures associated with implant treatment do not involve any type of discomfort and/or pain. In most cases, it is a procedure performed under local anaesthesia, like most other dental treatments. In the post-operative period, there may be slight discomfort, a small inflammation and oedema in the area where the surgery was performed. In very exceptional cases, these symptoms may be more pronounced.

In general terms, it includes four phases: the planning phase, the surgical phase, the restorative phase and the maintenance phase.

a. The planning phase may be more or less complex depending on your initial situation. It involves studying the case (clinical and radiographic examination), as well as carrying out other dental treatments, in order to achieve good oral health prior to implant treatment.

b. The surgical phase involves performing surgery to place the implant (artificial root) in direct contact with the bone. It may be necessary to perform other surgeries depending on the clinical case.

These clinical situations are specific to cases where there is a limitation in terms of the amount of bone, which requires prior surgical procedures.

c. The restorative phase can be performed on the same day as the surgery or up to 6 months after it, depending on the clinical case. It consists of a set of necessary procedures to make the prosthesis to be placed on the implants. This set of procedures may involve several appointments, aimed at achieving a suitable function and aesthetics for each clinical case.

d. The maintenance phase is perhaps the most important of the entire treatment because it is the one that enables everything that has been done up until then to be maintained in good health throughout life. Do not think that once the restorative phase is finished, the treatment is finished. In fact, the duration and quality of the treatment will depend on this and on the oral hygiene care carried out by the patient and the dentist and/or oral hygienist. There are specific, well-documented protocols.

There are several long-term studies that prove the effectiveness of implant treatment, in the order of 90% to 98%, in patients with good oral and systemic health. Naturally, like other medical and dental treatments, it depends on several factors, such as: the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the patients and their oral hygiene habits, smoking habits, among others. If you lose an implant, you can always place another one without this implying an increased risk of future failure.

Tobacco reduces the vascularization of the bone and gums, which delays the healing process, increasing the risk of infections. It is clearly proven in the scientific literature that implants in patients who smoke have a higher failure rate. However, the placement of implants in patients who smoke is not contraindicated.