Dental implants, implants or implants

All kinds of dental implants, or in other words, implants and implants, have firmly entered our lives and are no longer perceived as something unnatural. The invention of implantation - the implantation of artificial materials into the human body to replace lost organs - was a real breakthrough in medicine and science. Today, implants are used in many areas of medicine: these are artificial joints, silicone breast implants, and, of course, dental implants, which are available in almost every dentistry in Moscow.

History of the first patient

The first attempts to replace lost teeth with artificial ones were made by people in antiquity and even earlier. In the form in which we know dental implants now, they appeared in the second half of the 20th century. The first successful implantation was performed in 1965 on an ordinary carpenter, Gust Larsson, who lost all his lower teeth at the age of 34, had a cleft palate, a deformed upper jaw and chin, and experienced constant pain and significant difficulty eating and speaking. Larsson volunteered for a new study led by Professor Ingvar Brånemark at the University of Gothenburg, which Güsta had heard about by chance from his dentist. After the treatment, he was able to chew, eat and speak normally. The installed implants served Gust Larsson all his life. The experience of this brave man proved that installing dental implants is the most effective way to restore lost teeth.

What is better to put on chewing and front teeth?

If the incisors or molars are well treated, only the crown part is destroyed, and the root is not affected by caries, there are no cracks or inflammations, crowns can be placed. But you need to choose the right materials.

Restoration of the anterior incisors must meet high aesthetic requirements. The best option is a single prosthesis made of metal-free ceramics (it has natural translucency, is as similar as possible to natural enamel, but does not withstand heavy chewing loads).

Chewing molars are subject to severe stress, so it is important that the restoration method is reliable. You should choose durable materials, the best is zirconium dioxide - it is not inferior in strength to metal ceramics, but is more aesthetically pleasing and durable.

If the dentist has doubts about the quality of treatment, it is better to perform an extraction and install implants. There are methods of immediate implantation immediately after removal into a fresh socket - this will shorten the treatment time, there is no need to wait for healing or restoration of bone tissue.

For anterior incisors, a prosthetic restoration can be placed immediately using an immediate loading protocol. It is better not to load chewing teeth immediately, but to carry out classical implantation with delayed loading, because implants can become dislodged when chewed.

Dental implants – what are they?

Dental implants, implants, implants are all artificial structures that replace missing teeth. They are firmly fixed in the bone tissue of the jaw and serve as a reliable support for fixed or removable dentures in the form of single crowns and bridges of varying lengths (you can see what dental implants look like in the photo above). There are several types of dental implants, but the most popular today are root-shaped dental implants, which have earned favorable reviews from both patients and leading implantologists around the world. Prices for dental implants depend on their quality, features of the installation system, the presence of special coating and other factors. Which implants are better is a topic for a separate article.

Photo of a dental implant

Meaning of terms

By delving into the depths of semantics, you can understand how to correctly say - implant or implant.

Implant is a word originally from France, translated as “transplant”. It serves to designate a dental prosthesis. In English there is the word “implant”, it stands for “implantation” and “transplantation”.
The implant has the ending “-at, -ant”, indicating action. It is present in words such as “saboteur” (a person who ensures the creation of sabotage), “prisoner” (a person in prison). Likewise, the term “implant” refers to the person who installs the dentures (in other words, the dentist).
Implant is a colloquial version of the word, formed as a result of incorrect pronunciation of the word “implant” (perhaps the cause of confusion was the word “transplant”, by analogy with which they began to add an extra suffix).

Thus, the question of which is correct - “implant” or “implant” - is not entirely correct. Since the second term has already become firmly established in dental terminology, its use is not a gross error. You can say “implants”, “implants” or “implants”, but remember that the first two terms refer to a tooth, and the third refers to a person.

How do dental implants take root?

What material are dental implants made of? The answer to this question will help us understand why they take root well. Almost all of the newest dental implants are made from titanium. This unique material is ideal for the manufacture of artificial tooth roots, since it is not perceived by the human body as something foreign and is not itself subject to the destructive effects of the surrounding biological environment. But the most important thing is that it can reliably fuse with the jawbone. These unique properties of titanium solved the problem of rejection and made implantation a reliable and durable technique. However, in very rare cases when a patient is allergic to titanium dental implants, zirconium dioxide is used as a base to make the prosthesis.

How long does it take for a dental implant to take root? Experts believe that the survival of dental implants is an individual process. The timing of osseointegration depends on the area of the dentition in which the implantation was performed, as well as on the quality of the bone tissue. In general, the healing of dental implants lasts from three months on the lower jaw and up to six months on the upper jaw. If the implantation is successful, then removal of the prosthesis becomes almost impossible, which proves the reliability of the structure. What is the survival rate of dental implants that worries many patients? It varies among different manufacturers, but in general it does not exceed 5%. In addition, the success of the operation is also influenced by the skill of the implant surgeon, so the choice of dentistry should be approached with special care.

What is the difference between a dental implant and a crown?

An implant is an artificial metal root that is surgically installed into the jawbone. Made of non-toxic medical titanium, hypoallergenic, not rejected by the body. The crown is fixed on top - immediately after installing the implant or after it has fused with the bone tissue. The duration of prosthetics depends on the chosen implantation protocol - based on the results of an analysis of the condition of the bone tissue. The service life of the implants is lifelong; you only have to change the crown once every 15 years, and if properly cared for, the service life is the same.
Crown - a prosthesis made of ceramic, zirconium or other material. This is the top of the dental unit, a kind of cap that is attached to the preserved part. Restores the aesthetic defect and functions of the coronal part. An important condition for this method of restoration is the absence of inflammation at the root. Constructions that rely on your own teeth last up to 10 years, and in case of inflammatory processes they have to be removed to re-treat the roots.

The fundamental difference between an implant and a crown is the installation method. To place an implant, it is necessary to remove the problematic unit of the dentition. The crown is installed on your own tooth, as it needs support, and only partially restores it; it is the upper outer shell. In addition, methods differ in service life, price and other parameters.

Lifespan of dental implants

Although implantation is significantly more expensive than traditional prosthetics, with a long-term calculation the costs are equalized. This is due to the fact that traditional bridges, crowns, clasp or nylon dentures need to be replaced on average every 5 to 7 years, and the supporting teeth will have to be ground down again each time. How long does a dental implant last? The minimum service life of a dental implant is about 30 years, and if all the doctor’s instructions are followed, the implant will last you a lifetime. Most manufacturing companies, including world industry leaders, who invest considerable funds in the latest developments, provide a multi-year or even lifetime warranty on their products. This applies to the part of the structure that is located inside - that is, the root (base plate, etc.) and the abutment. A crown installed on an abutment has a more limited service life, but it is also significantly longer than that of a traditional prosthesis installed on ground natural teeth. This is on average 10 – 15, sometimes 20 years. If we are talking about implantation for a young person, then, of course, he will be interested in what happens to implants in old age. With proper care and preventive examinations, nothing should happen to the artificial root.

Profession: implanter or implantologist?

An implanter, or implantologist, is a doctor who restores single teeth or a full row of them.

An implanter is sometimes confused with a prosthetist. Their functions are not the same, but are interconnected. Thanks to the implantologist, a support for bridge-type or removable prostheses is created.

Before starting work, the doctor determines a detailed treatment plan, which indicates the timing of the screw’s healing. If a person decides to seek help from an implant, then preference should be given to the method of dental restoration proposed by Dr. Dante. Its peculiarity lies in the absence of any surgical intervention: the implant is simply screwed into the canal where the molar was previously located.

General and specific contraindications

Who is contraindicated for dental implants? Implantation is a surgical operation and, like any other operation, it has contraindications. They are divided into two types: general for any type of implantation and specific dental ones.

The following concomitant diseases are common to all types of implantation (and to surgical interventions in general):

violation of coagulation (blood clotting), diabetes mellitus, tuberculosis, chronic rheumatism - these diseases complicate wound healing and implant placement;
pregnancy and lactation;
childhood and adolescence – children and adolescents continue to grow, and this is fraught with displacement of implants or their rejection, or slowdown in the growth of individual organs as a result of the installation of dental implants in them;
diseases of bone tissue that reduce its regenerative abilities;
diseases of the nervous system;
cancer during exacerbation, HIV and AIDS, specific diseases of the immune system that weaken the body as a whole and do not allow it to recover after operations.

The following can be considered specific contraindications to dental implantation:

when installing implants in the upper jaw, it is necessary to take into account such factors as the proximity of the sinuses (aka the maxillary sinuses), as well as the width and density of the bone at the point of contact of the jaw with the sinuses; in some cases, the implantation procedure may be preceded by a sinus lift;
chronic, including inflammatory diseases of the oral mucosa;
patient's failure to comply with oral hygiene;
insufficient height and density of bone tissue at the site of proposed implantation (this applies to both the upper and lower jaws) - in such a case, bone grafting can correct the situation.

It is worth noting that diabetes and advanced age are not currently included in the list of contraindications for dental implantation.

Dental implants in the upper jaw

Understanding the terminology - what is right and what is wrong

Before dwelling on the difference between an implant and an implant, it is worth learning more about the origin of the terms. It all started with the word “implant”. It comes from the combination of the Latin root plantatio - “transplant”, and the prefix im (in) - “in”, “inside”, and appeared in domestic dentistry at the end of the 19th century. In 1891, Doctor of Medicine, Professor of Moscow University Nikolai Znamensky proposed the terms “implantation” and “dental implant” in his work “Implantation of Artificial Teeth”[1]. Where did the words “implant” and “implantant” come from, and is there a difference between them?

Let's take a closer look at the term “implant”

The word “implant” arose later as a tracing paper from the English word implant, derived from the same Latin root, and means “to implant.” Both words, implant and implant, are equivalent, but the latter, despite its later appearance, is used more often - perhaps due to its short form and greater euphony. The only difference is in pronunciation, there are no semantic differences between a dental implant and an implant.

Is there a term "implant"?

Practicing dentists use various terms in their work, which are often incomprehensible to patients due to difficulties in pronunciation or the lack of consonant synonyms in the Russian language. Therefore, you need to figure out which is correct - a dental implant or an implant.

You need to know that using the word “implant” is a mistake. There is no such term in dentistry, or in medicine in general. Therefore, the difference between an implant and a dental implant is that the first is simply a made-up word (or better yet, mispronounced). Whereas an implant is a really existing concept (read more about what it is below).

About the term "transplant"

It is also worth distinguishing an implant from a transplant, which in turn is a living (and not artificial) donor organ or tissue - for example, bone tissue, transplanted to the place of the lost one.

Caring for Dental Implants

Many patients who have had artificial teeth installed are concerned about the question: how to care for dental implants? In fact, caring for artificial teeth is practically no different from regular oral hygiene. The same few basic rules apply here: regularity, thoroughness, correctness. That is, you need to brush your teeth at least twice a day - in the morning and before bed, and preferably after every meal, especially after eating carbohydrates; this must be done for at least three minutes, and also use additional hygiene products: dental floss, irrigator, etc.; You need to brush your teeth correctly - with sweeping movements away from the gums. The same brushes that are used for cleaning natural teeth are suitable for cleaning dental implants, but you can purchase a special toothbrush for implants.

Sometimes the difference between implantation and crown installation is only a couple of thousand rubles

Sometimes the difference is only a couple of thousand rubles due to the need for preliminary treatment before installing an orthopedic structure. If the tooth is severely damaged, additional costs will be required - strengthening with a pin or inlay. The patient pays for depulpation and root canal treatment. In addition, caries often develops under the denture. Even with good treatment, the root with the removed nerve is vulnerable to infection and is fragile, it can break even under light load.

Levin Dmitry Valerievich

Chief physician, Ph.D.

Implants come with a lifetime warranty. The most that will need to be replaced is a prosthesis. As research has proven, the service life of orthopedic structures based on artificial rather than living roots increases by 30–40%. With daily careful hygiene, the service life coincides with the implants.

Dental implants – pros and cons

As for expert opinions, the majority of specialists are inclined to argue for dental implants, and those who are usually against are either very elderly doctors or dentists who do not have sufficient qualifications to carry out such procedures. If we consider the pros and cons of dental implants, then among the undeniable advantages we can note durability, the absence of the need to grind adjacent teeth, in contrast to the installation of bridges, as well as the preservation of all the functions of a natural tooth, such as: full participation in chewing and speech, prevention of tooth loss bone tissue and changes in facial features. As for the disadvantages, the price becomes a significant difficulty for most patients, however, as mentioned above, this is an adequate cost of solving the problem once for a lifetime. As for an alternative to dental implants, it does not exist as such, since traditional prosthetics is inferior to it in all respects.

Dental implants make it possible to improve the quality of life, restore the full functionality of the dentition, restore the attractiveness of the smile, and also protect yourself from the loss of bone tissue in the place of the missing tooth, and therefore from the possibility of losing neighboring teeth. But, in any case, only an implantologist can confirm the need for this operation; he will also help you draw up a treatment plan and choose designs that suit you personally.

Make an appointment:

1. Dental clinic on the street. 50 Let Oktyabrya, 24, office 2/2: Tel 2. Dental clinic on the street. Permyakova, 73: +7 3452 51-40-47

What to put on a dead tooth

A dead tooth is pulpless, without a nerve. A root without pulp becomes brittle and may not withstand heavy loads. If the root breaks, the prosthesis will need to be changed urgently. It will not be possible to preserve the old design; you will have to make a new one, and this will be an unforeseen expense. In the case of implantation, there are no such risks.

In addition, in case of severe damage, the dental unit must be strengthened and a pin installed in the root. But even with a positive prognosis, there is no guarantee that a crown with a pin will last at least 10 years. In case of critical damage, stump inlays are installed, which are made according to casts to order. The recovery process becomes longer and more expensive.

In difficult cases, there is no guarantee that the structure will last long. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the condition of the tooth and predict the duration of its functioning. If the prognosis is unfavorable, it is better not to spend money, remove the problematic molar or incisor, and install an implant that will last a lifetime.

If the cost of restoration with a crown with preliminary treatment is comparable to implantation, preference is given to the latter. You will receive a warranty from the manufacturer and from the clinic for the implant, and a 1-year warranty for treatment and prosthetics.

How to choose?

If you are healthy, under 50 years old, do not smoke, are willing to wait up to 6 months for the implant to survive and receive prosthetics, and want to restore a molar or premolar, you can get dental implants, which cost less. It is reduced by manufacturing from a titanium alloy with vanadium and aluminum, the absence of ultra-hydrophilic surfaces, acid etching and coating with phosphorus or other substances that accelerate healing.

If you smoke, have diabetes, osteoporosis, or are over 50 years old, you need implants made of pure titanium or its alloy with zirconium dioxide or bioceramics. After sandblasting and acid etching, the surface acquires hydrophobic properties that slow down implantation. Choose a design with an ultra-hydrophilic surface. Straumann implants have the best combination of characteristics. They produce several models, Roxolid has the highest survival rate. If you are confused about how much a Straumann dental implant costs, you can install Osstem or MIS. When implanting Osstem structures, prosthetics are postponed for 3-6 months. MIS has no such restrictions; healthy people with dense bone tissue can have a prosthesis installed after surgery or after 5-15 days.

If there is insufficient jaw bone tissue, it is better to install a basal type implant (manufactured by the Swiss company ROOTT). It is inserted deeper into the jaw bone and is more stable. This operation is indicated for elderly people, smokers, patients with diabetes, and osteoporosis.

Manufacturers rating

When choosing dental implants, you do not need to rely on the opinions of friends who have had them installed before, or on reviews on the Internet. In the review, a person describes dental implants, types and prices, a few days or weeks after surgery. But how he will behave in a year or three is rarely written about. And patients do not indicate why the doctor recommended specific dental implants, the prices of which are higher or lower than average. Perhaps the person has weak bone tissue, diabetes, or, conversely, is under 30 years of age.

If dental implantation is to be done, prices and reviews should not be the deciding criteria. But it is useful to know the statistics: what dental implants are used by implantologists in Europe. Of the 350 manufacturers, there are 5 clear leaders, accounting for more than 60% of the market:

Straumann are leaders, accounting for up to 18% of sales in this segment.
NobelBiocare – slightly behind Straumann, 17% of the market.
AstraTech - Approximately 15% of the structures used are manufactured by AstraTech.
3i Biomet – about 7% of sales.
Zimmer – approximately 6% of sales.

The prices for dental implants they offer are above average. Another 37% of the market is accounted for by the remaining more than 300 small manufacturers. Some have their own patented inventions that improve the composition, design and performance properties of implants. Israeli manufacturers AlphaBio, MIS and Korean Osstem offer lower cost of dental implants, but good quality.

Implants from different manufacturers can differ greatly in design and materials. Not all of them are widely used in Russia. Look at the overview of the structures used for dental implantation in Moscow, their prices in 2022.

Pin or implant? What to choose?

What is an implant

What is a pin and how is it different from an implant?

How does a pin differ from an implant?

Pin or implant? This question worries many who decide to restore lost teeth. To make a decision, it is important to understand the difference between these designs. Both the post and the implant support the crown. However, they perform different tasks and are installed in different clinical situations. Let's take a closer look at each of them.

Installation methods

The classic method of implantation is surgery, followed by a long period of osteosynthesis. Modern techniques make this process easier and faster.

Types of dental implantation:

Traditional – carried out in 2 stages. The crown is installed six months after implantation.
One-stage – the crown is installed immediately after implantation.
Basal – pins are installed in the basal bone; sinus lift surgery is not required.
Translingual - the artificial root is inserted through small punctures. The technique is considered minimally invasive. The crown is fixed after 3–4 days.

The method of installing dental structures is chosen by the doctor. It depends on the patient’s diagnosis and associated factors.

Rehabilitation and rejection after the procedure

Installation of a titanium pin does not require hospitalization and is performed under local anesthesia. After the procedure, the patient goes home. Survival rate and the absence of complications depend on the quality of oral care and compliance with the dentist’s prescriptions.

Recommendations for nutrition for 3 days after surgery:

do not eat for 3 hours after the procedure;
the first day - soft, warm, non-acidic and non-spicy food;
chewing load - only on the healthy side;
Alcohol and smoking are prohibited;
It is advisable to exclude coffee and tea; the best option is herbal tea, unsweetened compote;
observe the drinking regime.

Attention! Alcohol after implantation is completely and categorically prohibited. It promotes the destruction of bone tissue and slows down the healing process. In addition, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics. Alcohol intake is dangerous for the patient's life.

Hygiene rules:

there is no place for hands in the mouth;
3–4 days – only oral baths with prescribed medications, rinsing is strictly prohibited;
3–5 days after examination by a doctor, you are allowed to use a toothbrush;
2 weeks after implantation, start using an irrigator.

After surgery, buy a new toothbrush. This way you will reduce the risk of wound infection by pathogenic flora.

After implantation it is strictly prohibited:

using electric toothbrushes;
brushing teeth with floss;
carry out hygienic cleaning without a doctor’s referral - the dentist must know and be able to work with implants. Therefore, only as prescribed by the implantologist;
chew nuts, pencils, bite any hard objects.

Smokers should give up cigarettes at least until the stitches are removed. Then after each smoking session you need to do a mouth bath with chlorhexidine.