Replace a tooth
Dental implants and protheses
The fitting of implants is a “flagship” speciality of La Clinique Quai du Mont-Blanc 19 in Geneva. It requires specific skills and experience.
AN ARTIFICIAL ROOT MADE OF TITANIUM AS A DENTAL IMPLANT
A dental implant is a fake root made of titanium which is surgically screwed into the bone and on which a dental prosthesis can be seated.
Implant prostheses are very common in Switzerland. Several types of implants can be used. The most frequent are “screw-type” (“visse”) titanium implants. There are many manufacturers. It is therefore very important to use recognized brands in the field of implantology to have the highest quality standards. In this way, we chose for our patients the Swiss brands STRAUMAN, world leader in implants, and NOBEL BIOCARE, as well as the American brand ZIMMER.
Guidelines
Dental implant supported denture can be used either to replace a single missing tooth or to replace an entire dentition if necessary.
There are two main types of implant dental prosthesis:
- Fixed dental prostheses, fixed on implants: single crowns, partial bridges or complete bridges. These prostheses are sealed or screwed.
- Removable dental prostheses, fixed on implants: the prosthesis is stabilised by means of a fastening device in the form of a O’RING “push button” or on a bar.
Benefits
The dentist will always prefer to keep a healthy tooth rather than an implant.
Where this is not possible, the implant prosthesis is a solution which has multiple advantages :
- The implant prosthesis makes it possible to reconstitute the dentition to its closest natural appearance, whether to replace a single tooth or an entire set of teeth.
- The implant allows the installation of a bridge without bearing on the surrounding teeth, thus without risk of damaging them.
- The implant allows to install fixed total prostheses and to stabilise removable dental prostheses.
- The implant also minimises bone resorption when the teeth are missing.
Results
La Clinique Quai du Mont-Blanc 19 guarantees the implant and the denture for 5 years, with is not a common policy in Switzerland, subject to a scaling check-up carried out every 6 months at the Mont-Blanc Dental Practice, along with a large cut-back in tobacco consumption.
Treatment process
The fitting of an implants prosthesis is carried out in three stages and requires five appointments and the follow-up check-ups.
- A preliminary step: During a preliminary consultation, the dentist performs a radiological examination, an assessment of the patient’s state of health, offers to the patient a treatment plan according to his specific needs.
- The surgical step: It takes place after a period of reflection by the patient, and consists in the fitting of the implant. One week after the procedure, the patient returns for the removal of the wires and a check-up.
- Installation of the implant prosthesis: This step is carried out at least 3 months after implant placement to allow the implant to knit itself into the bone. A follow-up appointment is scheduled one week later for occlusion control. This marks the end of the treatment.
There are two follow-up appointments in the year.
Our advices
What to do before treatment?
Before starting a treatment plan involving implant placement(s), the dentist will ensure that there are no periodontal pathologies – and may, if necessary, perform a periodontal treatment beforehand.
He will assess the general state of health of the patient in order to detect possible risk factors and propose appropriate solutions.
It is recommended for smokers to quit smoking. If total cessation is not feasible, the patient will have to significantly reduce the consumption of cigarettes. Tobacco consumption makes implant integration more difficult.
What to do after treatment?
The patient will have nothing special to do after the treatment – apart from taking any painkillers if prescribed by the dentist and mouthwashes, and maintaining good dental hygiene. Two follow-up visits will be scheduled after completion of treatment to ensure proper integration of the implant.
Hygiene and follow-up are key factors in the long-term success of the implant prosthesis. In the same way as prosthesis on natural teeth, an implant prosthesis poorly maintained by lack of hygiene can lead to the loss of the dental implant that supports it.
