The installation of implants on the front teeth is a difficult dental operation, which allows you to restore the dentition. Such a procedure requires a considerable amount of time and effort. And as a result, the oral cavity acquires an attractive appearance. At the same time, the implants themselves are well fixed, which eliminates their loosening. Therefore, when talking or eating these elements will not fall out.
Features of the procedure
What could be special about such a procedure as implantation of dental elements? The main feature here is that it is possible to carry out such a dental operation immediately after tooth extraction. But there are certain situations when it is better to postpone implantation, postponing it for a certain period of time. Usually, the cause of this is the course of the inflammatory process or too large a hole.
In contrast to the replacement of molars, which are located outside the smile zone, the specialist needs to work extremely carefully with the front elements. Indeed, it depends on what the patient will look like, whether it will be possible to achieve a result when only photos of implants of the front teeth (before and after) can tell others about the procedure.
At the same time, certain requirements are made regarding not only the visual part, but also the timing. After all, who wants to do without front teeth for a long time? In addition, their loss causes aesthetic discomfort.
Implantation of the front teeth in case of their absence (for various reasons) is a sure way to restore your smile and keep the nervous system intact.
In the usual procedure for prosthetics, artificial tooth analogs are fixed thanks to special fastening devices. Moreover, it is not always possible to hide them. And if at the same time we make the main emphasis on aesthetics (mostly relevant for front teeth), this will result in damage to the quality of attachment. So, there is no certainty in functionality. In the body of this material, you can find several photos of implants on the front teeth, which will allow you to visually examine the whole picture.
Another feature of the procedure is that on the third day after implantation of the “foreign body”, crowns and bridges can be placed. And another day later, chewing function is restored. Any removable structures are not used here. And after installing the implants, you can once and for all forget about periodontal disease and periodontitis.
Description of procedure
Many patients, if necessary, implantation are asked about how long the recovery procedure takes. And is it possible to meet the deadlines? Basically, it all depends on the condition of the patient’s oral cavity, more precisely on the place where the tooth is lost. The more thorough the oral care is, the less time it will take to restore the element.
Judging by the photo of the implants on the front teeth, the procedure for their implantation resembles the restoration of chewing and is carried out in several stages:
In this case, special materials with high aesthetic parameters are used. The use of titanium in its pure form for implantation of the anterior teeth is undesirable, since such products are easily visible through the gum. Because of this, the appearance of the patient suffers, giving him significant psychological discomfort.
In this regard, the use of ceramic implants based on zirconium oxide or aluminum dioxide is relevant. As a last resort, a special whitening coating helps.
The procedure itself can be divided into several stages:
preparatory;
surgical;
orthopedic.
An interesting fact: the replacement of the front teeth with artificial analogues contributed to the development of a new direction of implantation in dentistry - the introduction of non-metal ceramics into the masses.
A number of contraindications to surgery
Many visitors to dental clinics may wonder whether implants are placed on the front teeth and whether it is dangerous. And this is quite natural, since such a procedure has certain contraindications. And this despite the significant benefit - restoration of the dentition. Before proceeding to a discussion of how implantation is performed, it is worthwhile to touch upon those cases when you should refrain from such an operation:
Diseases of the blood or blood-forming organs.
The presence of malignant neoplasms.
Mental disorders.
Immunodeficiency.
The development of tuberculosis.
STDs.
Infectious diseases.
The presence of diabetes mellitus (even in the case of drug correction).
Anomalies in the development of bone structure and connective tissue.
The retirement age of the patient is more than 55 years.
Intolerance to anesthesia drugs.
Chemotherapy course.
Exacerbation of chronic diseases.
Anomalies of the tongue.
Alcohol abuse, drug use.
As you can see, the list is quite extensive. For this reason, when coinciding with at least one of the points for restoring the dentition, other possibilities should be used. At the very least, trust your doctor whether or not to have an implant.
Training
What implants to put on the front teeth? This issue is also of interest to many patients. Only a doctor can accurately answer it, which is exactly what the essence of the preparatory stage of implantation is, and its importance should not be underestimated!
First, a complete examination of the patient’s oral cavity is carried out and all the necessary information is collected (from his words). Computed tomography (CT) is also required. This allows the doctor to plan further actions. During the preparatory phase, the doctor performs a rehabilitation of the patient's oral cavity, which includes several procedures:
Treatment of dental diseases (caries, periodontitis and others).
Performing professional toothbrushing.
Those teeth that do not undergo medical therapy or are already severely damaged are removed.
Dental canals are filled.
If periodontal disease was detected during the examination of the patient, then before placing the implant on the front tooth, it is necessary to cure the disease and strengthen the roots. Only then can implantation begin. The same applies to bone atrophy. In this case, bone grafting is prescribed.
If there are crowns or dentures in the patient’s mouth that are no longer suitable for use, they are necessarily replaced by new elements. Only a doctor needs to consider the compatibility of materials to avoid galvanization or corrosion.
Surgery
This is the most important stage of all three, since it all depends on the quality of its implementation and the qualifications of a specialist. With a competent approach, an implanted product can last for many years.
Immediately before implantation, the patient is given an injection of local anesthesia. Although the operation can be carried out under general anesthesia. In this case, the effect of painkillers lasts for 1.5-2 hours at the end of the procedure.
The duration of implantation of the implant on the front tooth is from 30 to 50 minutes. Instead of a natural root, the specialist installs a pin using minimally invasive surgical instruments, after which an abutment is placed on top. It is worth considering that during such a procedure the gingival mucosa is damaged. For this reason, such manipulations should be performed by a highly qualified specialist.
Orthopedic stage
This stage can be considered the final stage. Here, after implantation, an implant is placed. Just for starters, a temporary crown is installed on the abutment, which is filed if necessary, so as to fit into the space between the surrounding teeth.
After a certain period of time, during which the implant takes root, a permanent crown is placed. At the same time, specialists are trying to give it a shade as close as possible to the color of natural enamel.
Methods of implantation
The installation of front teeth implants can be carried out in two directions:
In this case, both methods are used in the absence of one or more teeth. Each of the presented methods has its advantages and disadvantages. Which path to choose is decided by the doctor, who, first of all, takes into account the condition of the gums, how long the tooth was lost. The age of the patient and a number of other factors also matter.
Consider each of these methods of implantation of the implant separately.
Classic version
Implantation of the front teeth in the absence of a small amount (from 1 to 4) should be carried out according to the classical canon in two stages. It should be borne in mind that with this method, a fairly decent period of time can pass between the stages of implantation of the implant and the installation of the abutment - from 3 to 4 months, sometimes more.
This is caused by a certain need - you should wait until the implant has not fully taken root. But if, in addition to removal, bone growth is also required, then prosthetics is delayed up to a year. Typically, a two-stage technique includes the following procedures (including installing implants on 4 front teeth):
Diagnosis - the result will depend on the quality of the examination of the oral cavity. X-ray images provide more accurate data regarding the condition of the oral cavity and individual physiological characteristics.
Remediation - this procedure contains a list of the most necessary treatment and prophylactic procedures, including the extraction of teeth (if necessary).
Bone grafting - after the tooth is removed, the bone tissue shrinks over a certain period of time. In this regard, an extension procedure may be required. This is followed by a rehabilitation period (3-4 months), during which bone crumbs take root in natural tissues. Only then can we proceed to implantation of the implant.
Previously, the two-stage implantation procedure was the only solution to restore the dentition, but now thanks to the development of dentistry, new methods appear. This allows specialists to thoroughly study the clinical pictures of patients. And also determine which implant is best placed on the front teeth.
It is incorrect to compare the one-stage (about it a bit later) and two-stage methods. This is due to the fact that in each case, the specific characteristics of the patient should be taken into account.
One-step technique
One-stage or instant implantation is a type of prosthetics in which an artificial analogue is immediately placed instead of a removed tooth. That is, the doctor performs both operations. Moreover, the entire procedure is carried out in one visit to the dentist.
Implantation of an implant with this method can be carried out in different ways:
Immediately upon completion of the extraction, a pin is placed and the gum is sutured. All other manipulations are done after complete healing of the soft tissues.
After tooth extraction, a gum shaper is placed at the same time as the implant is implanted to preserve the appearance of the tissues. Depending on the wishes of the patients, the shapers can be of standard design or they can be made according to individual characteristics.
Installation of the implant is carried out in conjunction with a temporary crown. And after the artificial analog has taken root, it is replaced by a constant. According to reviews, implants on the front teeth placed in this way find a greater response among many patients. Indeed, in this case, the dentition is restored much faster.
It is easy to see that many patients choose this method, since in this case physical and psychological discomfort is minimized. The quality of execution is no worse than that of the classical technique. Immediate implantation significantly reduces the recovery period and allows patients to fully eat immediately after the procedure.
Upper teeth implantation
The upper anterior elements of the dentition are the most noticeable of all, especially clearly visible when one of them is lost. As a result, a person’s appearance becomes unrespectable or, at times, so comical that it causes psychological discomfort. A person even has to hide his smile from others.
In this case, the upper jaw has its own characteristics:
The bone has a minimum thickness.
The depth here also leaves much to be desired, since it is also relatively small.
Immediate proximity to the paranasal sinuses.
Based on this, the procedure for implantation of the front upper teeth implants is given to specialists (according to their recognition) with great difficulty.
During the operation, it is here that there is a likelihood of complications. But besides this, there are other risks:
Bone perforation or damage.
Hemorrhage in the sinuses due to breakdown of hard bone tissue.
The doctor’s error in evaluating the thickness of the bone, which leads to unreliable fixation of the implant.
Fortunately, most modern dental clinics are equipped with modern equipment. This minimizes the first two points. The errors indicated in the third paragraph can be avoided by means of computed tomography, which will provide more visual data.
In addition, with respect to the upper dentition, a smaller amount of anesthetic is required. And this, in turn, reduces the burden on the body.
Front Lower Teeth Implants
The bone structure of the lower jaw has a slightly different structure: it is stronger, much thicker than at the top. And besides, there are no sinuses. But there is always a risk of damage to these cavities.
However, there is one nuance that requires a specialist not less qualifications. Indeed, it is here that the maxillofacial nerve is located, which originates from the common (triple) bundle. In other words, there are features:
The need for enhanced anesthesia.
In the case of deep implantation of the pins (basal implantation), the specialist should act with extreme caution, since there is a risk of hitting the nerve.
During the replacement of the front teeth of the lower row, only one complication may occur - damage to the facial nerve, which is accompanied by numbness. Based on the nature of his defeat, the problem in some cases may be irreversible.
With minor damage, numbness can last 6-12 months. Just in this case there are no serious concerns - everything is fixable. However, if the nerve was very disturbed (fortunately, this is rare), then recovery is impossible. Neither therapy nor surgery will help.
In conclusion
Today, the procedure for implanting implants on the front teeth is the only right decision to restore the dentition in case of loss of the front (upper or lower) elements. In this case, it is not important that the whole molar is lost or some part of it. But what is most valuable - the procedure does not affect the surrounding teeth (near the implant).
Products are usually made of high-quality materials, which allows to extend their service life. However, patients themselves should also make some efforts. Namely, to regularly care for implanted implants.
Only with this approach the prostheses will be preserved for 15-25 years. Otherwise, they will become unusable within 3 to 5 years.