Dental implants

You often ask

• What is a dental implant?

  A dental implant is a small "screw" that is made of titanium or an alloy of titanium and zirconium. The dental implant is placed in the jawbone to replace the missing root of the original tooth. Many years of research have shown that titanium is very well tolerated by the human body and that bone adheres well to titanium. This method has been used to replace missing teeth for more than 50 years. Once the implant has healed, it acts as an artificial root on which a crown, bridge or complete denture can be fixed.

• Are you a suitable patient?

  Given the options that modern implantology offers today ( minor and major augmentation of missing bone, guided surgery, laboratory CAD/CAM technology and more), almost anyone with excellent oral hygiene and good health is a suitable patient. Relative contraindications include smoking, including electronic cigarettes and vaporizers, and systemic diseases such as diabetes and autoimmune diseases.

• What is the price of the implant?

  Nowadays, there is a plethora of implants on the market, which differ in quality and therefore in price. At our clinic, we work exclusively with proven and quality Swiss dental implants of the Straumann and Camlog brands. These implants are among the more expensive ones, the price of the implant is 22 000 CZK, to which we still have to add a crown for 15 900 CZK. In the case of more extensive reconstructions, additional costs for augmentation materials, transfer of the actual grafts, mebranes, etc. must be taken into account.

• Is the implant painful and how long does it take?

  The insertion of dental implants is performed under local anaesthesia. The implantation itself, if it is only one implant, takes approximately 20 minutes and is essentially painless. In the case of a more extensive procedure, it can be performed under analgosedation for the patient's comfort. Recovery requires rest for a few days, for more information see the text on oral care after implantation below.

• How long will the entire treatment take after the implants are placed?

  The total length of treatment depends on several factors. In the case of a simple implant and when only one tooth is replaced, the total time from surgery to the placement of the crown will range from 7 to 12 weeks. If the implantation is preceded by the extraction (pulling) of a tooth that is subsequently replaced with an implant, approximately 6 weeks must be added to this time. If the bone has to be filled in before implantation, the total treatment time can be as long as 6 to 9 months.

• How to proceed with oral care after implementation?

  - Medication- antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor and analgesics for pain again as recommended by your dentist
  - Ice the site- cold dry compresses ( cooling gel pads, wrapped in a handkerchief) until the end of the following day.
  - Caution when rinsing. Limit flushing for a few hours after the procedure, drinking after the procedure is possible, cold drinks can help relieve pain and swelling.
  - Do not brush the site of the procedure and do not irritate the wound. Instead of using a toothbrush at the wound site, your dentist will recommend a mouthwash with chlorhexidine for a maximum of 14 days. However, other teeth need to be cleaned normally.
  - To reduce bleeding and pain, it is recommended to sit and limit bending over. For sleep, it is recommended to support the head more.
  - Limit food consumption if anesthesia is still working, biting the tongue and mucous membranes could occur.
  - Limit alcohol and smoking during the first few days
  - Porridge diet - after implantation, it is recommended to eat a mostly porridge, lukewarm diet for the first three days.
  - Resting regimen- do not play sports or perform strenuous activities the day after the procedure.
  In case of persistent pain, large swelling or loose stitches - contact your doctor immediately!
  ● After about 10 to 14 days, come in for suture removal