What are Straumann Dental Implants?

Dental implants are a tool used in dentistry to replace missing or badly damaged teeth, Straumann is a company that supplies products like this to offices all over the world, from their base in Switzerland; they are often considered one of the top companies of their kind, and the implants they provide are great quality.

How do Straumann dental implants work?

Most people might think that there is nothing you can do to replace a missing tooth; once it’s gone, it’s gone – however, thanks to modern technology there is a permanent, hard-wearing alternative that is the next best thing to natural teeth. Dental implants are made using some of the most durable material for the job; titanium and treated porcelain, and they work by building a new tooth from the root upwards. Bridges and dentures are great for filling gaps in, but they don’t penetrate beneath the gum line, and tests have shown that they don’t perform as well for as long a period of time. The design of implants is based on real human teeth; the titanium rod is used to form a root, that is embedded in the alveolar bone (the bone which supports the teeth), and the porcelain is used to build a synthetic tooth, which is fitted onto the protruding rod. By recreating the structure of natural teeth, implants can perform in much the same way, without the patient having to worry about special cleaning methods or avoiding their favourite foods. Titanium is extremely durable and is resistant to bacterial infection; it also bonds well with human tissue, all of which makes it perfect for the job of regular biting and chewing. Porcelain is another very hard-wearing material, but not only that, it also closely resembles the appearance of natural enamel, in both colour and texture, which makes it very hard to tell which tooth is the implant once it is placed.

How are Straumann dental implants fitted?

If you are considering dental implants, you have to be prepared to set aside some time to have them fitted properly, and there is also a lengthy recovery period that usually applies – which allows for the implanted rods to fully bond with the bone and become stable. So, although it is a permanent solution to missing teeth, it does require some commitment on your part.

At the initial consultation, it’s important for the dentist to examine your mouth thoroughly, to make sure there are no issues that could complicate the treatment, primarily gum disease or extensive rot – it’s not a good idea to plough ahead with surgery if there is already a corrosive problem present. Another complication that may arise is a deteriorated jaw bone; our teeth are not just used to eat and look nice when we smile, they are also essential to maintaining healthy bone growth and supporting the structure of the face, without them, the jaw begins to break down over time, and it is gradually absorbed back into the facial tissue. To counter this problem, your dentist – or a specialist oral surgeon – will have to perform a bone graft, where a sliver of bone is taken from another part of the skeleton – generally the hip area – and surgically attached to what’s left of the jaw bone. This process slows up treatment considerably, by adding on more healing time, but it is necessary if the sockets have been vacant for a long time.

If you are deemed healthy and your jaw is in good condition, your dentist may begin the implanting procedure, first by anaesthetising you, using local anaesthetic. When your mouth is completely numb, the incision can be made into the gum line, cutting right through to the bone beneath; specially designed tools can cut away exactly the right amount of tissue, with minimum blood loss or gum trauma. Next comes the drilling, which a lot of people are often nervous about, but you don’t need to worry about feeling any pain, the worst you will experience is the vibration from the drill bit as it creates a new socket. After the initial hole is created your dentist will use a small file-like tool to widen it to the correct size – it’s important that they take their time with this delicate part of the procedure, otherwise the hole could become too large and the implant won’t stabilise properly. When the surgeon is satisfied that the socket is adequate, they can implant the titanium rod directly into the bone. Straumann’s dental implants are made from titanium or titanium zirconium, which is manufactured with a screw thread already cut into it, to make it easier for the dentist to fix it in place; all they have to do is turn the rod until it penetrates deep enough into the gum line, then they remove the excess.

With the hardest part over with, your new root will then be fitted with a temporary synthetic tooth, for both aesthetics and functionality, as well as to protect the delicate rod as it begins to attach to the alveolar bone. It generally takes three to six months for the dental implants to fully stabilise, depending on the condition of your jaw and natural teeth, during which time you will have to take care not to damage the new tooth or put it under any undue pressure. You should avoid hard or sticky foods, and implement a strict cleaning routine, to give the implant the best chance of healing properly.

How long do Straumann dental implants last?

Straumann dental implants are the next best thing to your real teeth, so they are most definitely built to last. Apart from occasionally having to replace the dummy porcelain tooth – our teeth and jaws change as we age – the durable materials used to create them means that the implants should last for decades, entire lifetimes even, providing they are well cared for.

If you think Straumann dental implants could benefit you, the Pearl Dental Clinic can help; give them a call to arrange a consultation, and get the treatment you need to fix your smile. They provide the very best in customer care, using the latest dental technology.