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FAQ > Oral Implants

  • What is an oral implant?
This is the latest technique for replacement of tooth loss.

A titanium implant is implanted in the toothless area of the jawbone. The  jawbone fuses with the titanium surface providing strong anchorage for  the implant This implant now functions as a support for the dental   prosthesis constructed over it.

Replacement of missing back teeth with implants
  • What are the benefits of an oral implant?
  1. It can treat cases untreatable with conventional methods of dental bridges and dentures.
  2. It prevents further resorption of the jaw bone following tooth loss.
  3. It can perfectly restore chewing function.
  4. It avoids cutting down and overloading the natural teeth with conventional methods of replacing tooth loss.
  5. It helps restore patients self esteem and confidence since it gives the feeling of regaining the real teeth.
  6. It functions better than conventional dental bridges and dentures.
  7. It gives superior aesthetic results. 
  • Am I a suitable candidate for an oral implant?
  1. You will be a suitable candidate for an oral implant if you fulfill the following requirements:
  2. You must be medically fit to undergo ordinary surgery.
  3. Your jaw must have enough bone to support the implant. If not, bone grafting may be required.
  4. There must be enough space to accommodate the prosthesis over the implant.
  5. You must understand what the treatment can offer.
  6. You must realize to what extent the treatment can meet your expectations.
  • When should I consider an oral implant?
  1. You should consider an oral implant when:
  2. You do not want to have your natural teeth cut down which is required in making your conventional denture bridge.
  3. You con not wear or chew well with your denture.
  4. You con not tolerate a denture in your mouth
  5. You do not want to damage your remaining teeth by wearing a partial denture.
  6. You have lost your back teeth making it impossible to construct a conventional dental bridge.
  7. You have a long toothless span which is not indicated for making a conventional dental bridge.
  8. You want superior aesthetic results with your tooth replacement.
  9. You want the most effective way of restoring your chewing function.
  • What are the procedures involved?
The surgery can be done after thorough diagnosis and treatment planning. A recipient site of the same size and shape as the implant is created with drilling instruments in the jawbone, under local anesthesia. The implant is inserted into the prepared site. Usually a healing period of 3 to 6 months is required for the jawbone to fuse with the implant. The jawbone has different densities in different areas- the denser the bone, the shorter the healing period. After this healing period, the prosthesis is constructed over the implant and the treatment is completed. Usually, a straightforward implant treatment takes about 4 to 7 months to complete. Longer periods are required for complex situations such as cases requiring bone grafting.
  • How is the operation arranged?
The operation will be performed under aseptic conditions usually in a clinic with proper facilities and conditions for oral implant surgery.

Local anesthesia is given for pain control during the operation. Pain which may occur after the operation can be effectively controlled with oral medications. The prosthetic part of the implant treatment does not require any anesthesia.
  • How successful is the treatment?
Modern oral implant is highly successful, as a general guideline, the 5 year success rate of oral implant is over 95 % with the lower jaw (mandible)and about 90% with the upper jaw (maxilla). The success rates may slowly decrease as the implant stays longer in function. In difficult cases the success rates are expected to be lower. Despite the overall high success rates with oral implant treatment, there is still the possibility of failure which can be contributed by various factors such as poor healing power, poor bone quality, smoking and diabetes.
  • How long can an oral implant last?
The service of an oral implant can be affected by many factors:

High standard of treatment, meticulous daily cleaning by the patient, regular professional maintenance, abstinence from smoking and avoidance of overloading(like chewing bones, shells, hard nuts and candies),can contribute to the durability of the oral implant. In view of the high success of the modern oral implant treatment, an oral implant can be considered a long lasting medical implant that does not need to be changed.
  • Is the operation safe?
Whereas no medical treatment can be guaranteed 100 percent without risks and failures, implant operation can be considered very safe. The prosthetic phase of treatment is basically noninvasive and non- surgical in nature.
  • How do I maintain my implant?
Maintenance of the implant is very important as plaque accumulation on implants can cause inflammation of the gums and eventually lead to loss of bone surrounding the teeth. Therefore, thorough cleaning twice a day is critical. Daily flossing or use of other plaque removing appliances and meticulous home care is necessary as instructed by your dentist.