Writes: Dr. Dimitar Nacevski
Implants, implants, implants!
Well, yes. Implants are the hot topic of today’s contemporary dentistry and people generally think of implants as permanent solution to their problems.
Are they the solution? I would definitely say so, if the are used in the right manners. And you will see why in the next 3 minutes, reading this short blog about the implants and the immediate loading of the implants in the first day or two after their placement.
Ok, so, this time I am going to write about the immediate loading of an “all on X” concept.
How many times have you heard the term “all on four” or “all on six”, and what those terms mean?
Well, “all on four” or “all on six” generally stands for an implantological concept and approach with which in an edentulous jaw (toothless jaw), four or six implants are placed in a certain manner, certain angulation and are adequately distributed and positioned in the jaw to support a further prosthodontic solution and rehabilitation of the patient’s teeth.
Furthermore, an immediate loading of an “all on X” concept, means that those implants are to be loaded with a certain prosthodontic appliance, most usually acrylic bridge construction in the first 24-48 hours after their placement, which actually means that the patient gets teeth placed on the freshly inserted implants, immediately after the surgical treatment.
This is actually a great advantage and is a fast treatment approach especially for patients that would like to have the new teeth placed in their mouth as soon as possible after the implants are inserted unlike the standard conventional loading that requires for implants to stay without any type of prosthodontic appliance for at least 3-4 months.
That being said, let’s see which patients are candidates for such a treatment:
-Edentulous patients that have no teeth and have difficulties wearing dentures
-Edentulous patients that would like to have fixed prosthodontic construction instead of removable dentures
-Patients with severe periodontal disease whose teeth have bad prognosis
-Patients that have multiple extractions and overall bad shape of the rest of the teeth
-Adults, with skeletal malocclusions that have lead to loss of teeth and other problems such as TMDs etc..
Another frequent question is whether these procedures are painful for the patient and the answer is straightforward NO. During the surgery the patients are anesthetized with local anesthetics and experience no pain whatsoever. Even if they experience a minor sensitivity, the surgeon will increase the anesthetic and any pain will be gone in a minute.
In terms of the post operative care, the patients may experience swallow and a little bit of pain in the days that follow, but not more then several days after which the patient continues with his/her daily activities normally. The doctor will prescribe certain medications to the patient after the treatment so that these conditions are put under control.
Are there side effects? The side effects of the treatment are in no way different to those present in the standard/conventional implant placement, which makes this concept in no way different or “more” dangerous to the conventional way of implant placement.
What kind of teeth are the patients getting? In the first six to twelve months the patient get acrylic teeth, until the implants are completely integrated inside the bone, after which permanent teeth may be made, out of zirconia, titanium composite or metal ceramics, depending on the patients wishes.
As conclusion I would say that these treatment concept and approach is one of the best contemporary solutions to the patients needs in terms of complete rehabilitation in terminal stages where every other option is limited and as special advantage is the fact that the patients are getting the teeth ASAP after the treatment in the first day or two.
At the very end I will just add that the more you wait, the more you lose, because the more the time passes the worse the conditions get, as bone is generally disappearing as years go by, and if something is important for the future implants to be steady and succesfull, that would be enough amount of bone. Therefore, don’t be afraid and schedule an initial appointment, so that we can explain to you a bit more about the transformation that is going to change your life!
