Implantolgy / Implants
Implants have changed the face of 21st-century dentistry – they are suitable for everyone, can be used even when bones are missing, and significantly improve the quality of life.
In order to place a bridge or crown, healthy teeth around the gap must be prepared (cut or polished) to reduce their size, which shortens their lifespan. Dental implants, on the other hand, are placed into the gap left by a missing tooth, which means that your healthy teeth remain intact.
What are implants?
Dental implants can be described as an artificial root embedded in the bone that replaces the natural root of a tooth. They are biocompatible titanium inserts that are surgically inserted into the bone of the upper or lower jaw.
This allows the implant to fully fuse with the jaw bone and act as an integral part of it. A crown or bridge can then be fixed to one or more implants, restoring the feel and function of natural teeth.
Who is a candidate for dental implants?
Dental implants are suitable for everyone, both young and old. The only exception are people with systemic diseases such as blood dyscrasias and cancers, and people undergoing radiological therapy or chemotherapy.
When is the Zygoma All-on-4 method used?
The Zygoma All-on-4 method involves placement of an implant into the zygomatic (cheekbone) bone overcoming the barrier of tooth placement with persons who have premature complete bone resorption at the implant site.
What is the difference between the All-on-4 method and a denture?
A denture is a prosthetic device, which the patient removes for cleaning and maintenance.
It is made of acrylic resin with ready-made teeth, and is fastened with clasps that hold the crowns.
All-on-4 is an affordable and proven alternative that uses four implants to replace a full set of teeth, thus restoring the look and function of natural teeth.
When are pterygoid implants used?
When treating an edentulous upper jaw, implant placement can be a challenge given the limited amount of bone mass and the presence of the maxillary sinus. Dr Zdenko Trampuš was the first in Croatia to introduce another innovation in everyday clinical practice – pterygoid implants. Pterygoid implants are an alternative that uses the remaining bone to anchor implants, instead of bone augmentation procedures.
How can you to chew properly and improve the quality of your life after losing a tooth?
You probably want to be able to bite into your food and chew it properly, regardless of missing teeth or wearing dentures. You can achieve this with implants or the innovative All-on-4 method, which will help you get rid of dentures forever. Here’s why.
Dental implants allow you to keep a good appearance – while the loss of teeth reduces the height of the bone, a dental implant can prevent this outcome. You can eat whatever you want, which is especially important now we all like to eat more than usual. By placing the implant into the gap left by a missing tooth, we will protect your healthy teeth from damage, since we don’t need to grind down adjacent teeth in order to fix a crown and bridge the gap. Using a crown to restore teeth is not at all practical, because the bone retracts over time, pulling back the gums, and further prosthetic work is required to correct this. Dental implants, however, are a lifelong solution, and we always recommend them to patients, as we believe they are a good health investment.
There are several indications for installing an implant:
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when one tooth is missing,
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when a number of teeth are missing, or
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when the jaw is completely toothless.
If the jaw is completely toothless, we recommend the innovative All-on-4 method, which allows us to replace a complete denture in just a few hours by placing four implants. The daily hassle of using dentures and putting them in a cup thus ends forever.
Following diagnosis and an established indication for the All-on-4 method, an appointment is made for the installation of dental implants and the placement of a temporary row of teeth. Temporary teeth are prepared in the dental laboratory on the basis of dental impressions and, if necessary, adjusted in the mouth on the day of the procedure. After eight weeks, another dental impression is taken to create permanent teeth, which the patients receives in the next seven to ten days. Your third set of teeth, as we like to say! We always adjust the shape and line of teeth to match your smile and face, rather than making them from moulds.
A dental implant is a titanium screw that is inserted into the bone and replaces the root of the tooth. It is completely biocompatible and cases of implant rejection are very rare. Everyone is a candidate for dental implants, if there is an indication for their use. There is no age limit and you are never too old for this procedure, you only need to be in good health. The feeling of chewing is equal to that with natural teeth. The implantation procedure is always performed under local anaesthesia and is completely painless, while postoperative pain varies among patients but is generally minimal or entirely absent. In order for implantation to succeed, good cooperation between doctor and patient is crucial, which involves regular check-ups. In any case, we recommend that you improve your oral hygiene.