Odontology Oral Clinic Spain, implantology, implants, fixed prosthesis, Barcelona, Tarragona,

The human being has two types of dentition during his/her life: the milk teeth (temporary teeth) and the final teeth. Teeth have three essential functions: the vital chewing element, they form part of the harmonious facial expression (aesthetic appearance, smile, lip support) and they determine the way of speaking.

As the years go by, teeth can lost due to different reasons, such as: a lack of hygiene, tooth decay, diseases of the support elements (gum, bone), accidents, etc.

Until a short time ago, we only had two solutions for replacing these teeth, which are still applicable:

· A) The removable prostheses (resin, skeletal dentures).
· B) The fixed prosthesis (bridges and metallic porcelain caps) that use the natural teeth as support or pillars.

In the first solution, the major disadvantage is that the dentures move in the mouth, and this can cause discomfort or problems of adaptation.

In the fixed prosthesis, the healthy adjacent teeth have to be drilled down (reduced in size).

However, for some years odonto-stomatology has had a third solution for replacing teeth: IMPLANTOLOGY.

What are Implants?

Implants are artificial dental roots made of pure titanium or zirconium. They are put into the maxillary bone and, once they have been incorporated in it, they offer a solid base for setting the new teeth.

The implants allow you to have a prosthesis that does not move.

The Operation

The implantology treatment requires a personalized examination of each patient. The surgical operation is carried out using a local anaesthetic and under the strictest controls of asepsis and disinfection. These are short, painless operations: two implants in approximately half an hour. The postoperative period is perfectly tolerated and the patient will be leading his normal life a few hours after being operated on.

Bone Regeneration

Meant for those cases in which the volume or quality of the bone is insufficient for rehabilitating using implants.

Practical Advice

Before accepting implantology treatment, make sure of it.

The publicity campaigns are sales strategies and do not always adapt to reality. Be careful and also look for another type of references.

Make and clarify all your enquiries and do not hesitate to visit several professionals if you consider it convenient.

Types of Implants

Depending on the case, the implants can be:
With a delayed load
With an immediate load

Francesc MaciÀ, 24 Cunit - 43881 (Tarragona) phone: (+34) 977. 675 .674 e-mail

Meant for those cases in which the volume or quality of the bone is insufficient for rehabilitating using implants. After an extraction or after curing an important bone loss, the patient's own blood is used for initiating a bone regeneration process in the required area. Using a standard blood sample,.the plasma fraction which contains a large amount of growth factors that contribute to the fast regeneration of the tissues is separated. This way, we can prepare the area so that we can operate in the future.

Once it has transformed into a type of jelly, it is grafted into the defective bone area. Six months later, the bone regeneration is complete and allows the implantation to be carried out in a healthy area.

When the bone loss is important, we shall talk about the block graft. This means transplanting the person's own tissue or bone cells from one area to another, establishing formation and bone growth centres. We take tissue from adjacent areas, in the chin or tibia area.

The implants we use in the Clinic are of quality and well-known prestige. TITanium. The titanium implants we use are: Trinon (from Germany) Standard Branemark. External Hexagon (from Sweden) The development of this implant system was carried out with a maximum clarity, quality and simplicity. The implants are carried out in one single phase and are made of pure titanium. The automatic screwing gives us an important primary stability which provides the support of a prosthesis supra-structure with an immediate functional load. A second operation will not be necessary since these are single phase surgical implants. This simplifies the treatment as well as shortening the time necessary for the osteointegration through achieving a maximum stability of the implant.

It is designed in such a way that it can be manipulated like a stump of a natural drilled tooth.	Implant with a single phase ball system. Implant designed to be a specific immediate load implant.

zirconium: Cosmetic surgery to perfection. This satisfies the wishes of many patients who have had cosmetic treatment in the prosthesis without any metallic component, without dark shades that affect the beauty of the prosthesis. Even when the height of the gum is scarce, the result is perfect. You will obtain a satisfactory result.
THE ADVANTAGES ARE: High bio-compatibility Non-metallic cosmetics Easier hygiene The tooth's natural colour Ideal for patients with allergies Two zirconium implants	SKY-Titanium plus zirconium And the innovative zirconium White-SKY

most frequent ask questions

What are dental implants?

Implants are artificial roots made of pure titanium or zirconium that are introduced into the maxillary bone by means of a small surgical operation in order to substitute the roots of the lost teeth

What advantages do implants offer?

They can replace from one to all your teeth leaving your natural adjacent teeth intact. This way, you can recuperate their chewing function.

Do the implants have contraindications?

There are very few total contraindications. Your periodontal expert is who will decide if you have any problem for being submitted to implantology and if the quality of your maxillary bone is sufficient.

Could there be rejection?

Implants do not provoke rejection in the organism. The material is anti-allergenic, so there can be no rejection. The only thing that can happen is that an implant is not incorporated with sufficient strength to resist chewing. A failure level of 2% of the implants carried out is considered normal. In the event of an implant not being properly carried out, it would simply be substituted by another.

Can they be carried out in all cases?

We cannot always turn to implantology. To do so, a previous detailed examination is done to determine the quality of the bone and to evaluate each case. The implantologist will be the person who determines this. .

Can they be carried out at any age?

In adults, there is no contraindication due to age. Implants can be carried out at all ages, both in youths once they have fully developed (sixteen years old in women and eighteen in men), adults and elderly people.

What is osseointegration?

This is a biophysical phenomenon that causes the molecular union of the titanium implant with the maxillary bone. It is such a strong union that, if we wanted to separate the titanium from the bone after the osseointegration, it would be impossible unless we extract part of the surrounding bone.

Is it a painful operation?

This is an ambulatory operation using a local anaesthetic. This means that the patient feels no pain at any moment during the operation. In the following hours, the discomfort that the patient may have is easily controlled by the medication prescribed by the implantologist.

Is the postoperative period difficult?

An implant does not necessarily cause pain, but discomfort may be caused due to the wound in the gum during the cicatrization process. Oral hygiene is essential to avoid extra infections. The postoperative period is perfectly tolerated, and the patient will lead his/her normal lifestyle a few hours after being operated on. The medication consists of an antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory-analgesic, a mouthwash and a painkiller (if there is discomfort).

How long does the treatment last from the placing of implants until the final prosthesis?

This will depend on the type of implants. In immediate load implants, they are of one single tooth and are already prepared to receive the prosthesis. In delayed implants, we shall have to wait the necessary time determined by the surgeon. This could range between 3 and 6 months, which will vary depending on the case.

Before accepting an implantology treatment, make sure of the following essential requirements:

A surgeon with ample, proved experience in implant surgery.

Strict asepsis of instruments and the operating theatre.

Use of quality and well-known prestige implants.

The corresponding guarantee in the event of problems or implant rejections.

Assurance of the proper future control and maintenance.

Distrust miracle treatments (fast, with no discomfort, cheap, exclusive treatments, etc.).

I n most treatments, there are several solutions for the same problem. Ensure that you are not given one single option and that you are offered all possibilities (as far as possible) in order for you to choose the most advantageous.

Ask about and clarify all your doubts and do not hesitate to visit several professionals if you think it is convenient.

The publicity campaigns are sales strategies and do not always adapt to reality. Be careful and also look for another type of references.

Implantology treatment also requires a personalized examination of each patient.

The surgeon will evaluate the patient's dental condition and the quality and volume of the bone, and he will indicate the necessary examinations (radiographies, C.A.T., general state of health, etc.). Finally, he will explain in great detail all the solutions and possibilities for each case.

The surgical operation will be carried out using a local anaesthetic under the strictest controls of asepsis and disinfection. These are short painless operations: approximately two implants in half an hour.

The postoperative period is perfectly tolerated. The patient will be leading his/her normal lifestyle a few hours after being operated on.

The postoperative medication consists of: an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory-analgesic.

"The implant avoids touching your natural teeth."

Implants are artificial dental roots made of pure titanium or zirconium.

The implants are introduced into the maxillary bone and, once integrated in it, they offer a solid base for setting your new teeth.

Implantology offers you the following advantages:

· Your natural adjacent teeth will remain intact.
· You will recuperate the chewing function.
· You will be able to replace from one to all your teeth using different types of prostheses.
· You will recuperate your looks with the improvement of your facial and phonetic expression.

Implantology, with its different varieties of prostheses, ensures the patient functions, hygiene, usefulness and quality of life, for he/she can eat without any restriction, as well as an excellent aesthetic improvement. It is an ideal treatment both for young patients as well as middle-aged or elderly people.

Implants allow you to have a prosthesis that does not move.