Last updated on March 9, 2024
Implant treatment is a good treatment that can replace missing teeth without affecting other teeth. However, in addition to the fact that implant treatment is not covered by health insurance,The treatment period may be longer than other treatments that replace missing teeth.
Basic structure of implants
Generally, an implant consists of an implant body, which is a titanium screw implanted in the jawbone, and an abutment, which is the foundation and superstructure that connects the implant to a cover (superstructure). Most implants have been made of titanium in the past, but recently, implants made of other materials have been introduced to facilitate bonding with the bone. Abutments and superstructures are often made of titanium or artificial diamond called zirconia.
Basic Implant Treatment Procedures
When placing an implant in a missing tooth, the first step is toThere must be sufficient bone mass... If there is no bone for various reasons, including periodontal disease, the implant body is placed in combination with artificial bone creation. This is also referred to as primary surgery.
After the implant is placed, the patient must wait several months for the implant and bone to bond (osteointegration). Once the implant and bone have osteo-integrated, the superstructure is fabricated. First, in order to establish the abutment on the implant, the gingiva where the implant is to be placed is cut to expose the implant's ceiling and the abutment is placed. This is also called secondary surgery. After that, a mold of the superstructure is made and the superstructure is placed.
Typical treatment time for implants
The most time-consuming part of the implant treatment is, as mentioned earlier, the time required to obtain osteointegration, the bonding of the implant to the bone. Taking this into account, the general treatment time for implant treatment is if there is enough bone to place the implant,It takes about 3 months for the lower jaw and about 5 months for the upper jaw.
Since the density of bone is greater in the mandible, the period of osteointegration between the implant and bone is basically shorter. If the amount of bone in which the implant is to be placed is small, bone building surgery is required, and the built-up bone also needs time to settle in, which may take several months to six months in addition to the normal period.
How long does it take to treat an implant?
The time required for implant treatment varies with each treatment item performed.
Treatment for implantation of implants into bone →.About 1 to 2 hours
Treatment to build bone in the area where the implant is to be placed →.1 to 3 hours
When implantation of the implant is combined with a bone-building treatment →.2 to 4 hours
Treatment to stand the abutment on the implant →.About 30 minutes
Treatment to attach the superstructure to the abutment →.About 30 minutes
Implant treatment is a surgical procedure that takes time. This is,Surgical procedures must be done carefully or they can damage nerves and blood vessels.Treatment to set up abutments and attach the superstructure may also take longer if there are more units.
How to shorten implant treatment time
In implant treatment, the treatment period is inevitably long because of the long time required for osteointegration. In order to shorten this period, various innovations have been made to the surface properties of implants, and the time required for the implant to bond with the bone tends to be shorter than before.
The duration of bonding to bone varies depending on the manufacturer and product used,It is recommended that you check with your dentist beforehand to find out how long this bonding period will take before undergoing implant treatment!The use of new materials and devices to enhance the bond between the implant and the bone has been increasingly developed. In addition, more and more devices and materials are being developed to enhance the bond between the implant and the bone. These include those made overseas and those not yet approved by the MHLW, so be sure to check with your dentist about their safety and effectiveness if you use them or if they are proposed for use.
Furthermore, instruments have been developed that can objectively measure whether or not osteointegration has been established between the implant and the bone. This allows for faster preparation of the superstructure if osteointegration has been established even within a short period of time.
Harmful effects of long implant treatment periods
The biggest problem with the longer treatment time for implant treatment is that after the tooth is removed, the woundis that the implant cannot be placed in the bone until the bone heals, and the tooth is not there during the period of osteointegration of the bone and implant.
If they are back teeth, they are still not noticeable, but if they are front teeth, they can cause aesthetic problems. In addition, even with back teeth, there may be chewing problems that prevent the patient from chewing food adequately, or pronunciation problems that make it difficult to speak due to leakage of breath from the missing teeth. Immediate tooth extraction implants and immediate loading implants are the solution to these problems.
Implants placed immediately after tooth extraction
Treatment method in which teeth are extracted and implants are placed at the same timeIt is a It is a revolutionary change from the traditional idea that implants cannot be placed until the wound at the extraction site has healed after the tooth has been extracted, but it is not applicable in all cases. However, it is not indicated in all cases. It is not indicated in cases where the tooth to be extracted is heavily infected or where there is not enough bone in the area where the implant is to be placed.
Immediate Load Implants
After the implant is placed in the bone, a superstructure is immediately attached to the implant (sometimes with a temporary tooth).However, improvements in the implants themselves have made it possible to place implants and implants of choice much earlier. Traditionally, implant therapy took several months to osteo-integrate with bone, and early placement of a superstructure was taboo.
Implant treatment generally takes several months to complete, and may take even longer if bone is artificially augmented.Since the quality of the implants themselves is improving and technological innovations are advancing, and treatment time tends to shorten, it is advisable to get a thorough explanation from your dentist when undergoing implant treatment.
Written by dentist/issy
After graduating from the National School of Dentistry, he trained at the Tokyo Medical and Dental University Dental Hospital, and is currently working in general and orthodontic dentistry.
Member of the Japanese Society of Oral Implantology
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