FAQ
GENERAL QUESTIONS
What happens at the first consultation?
Most of the dental treatments start with a consultation. This is the first time when the patient (you) meet the chosen dentist – thus, it’s important what your impressions are. At our clinic, consultation is more than just a simple health check!
During consultation, we’d like to know more about you so that you get the most suitable treatment to your needs. We want you to know that we always take the time to care about you and your problems, we don’t treat our patients on the ‘production line’.
We ask each patient to bring the completed anamnesis sheet (case history) with them since we can only treat you responsibly if we know everything about your health status. There are treatments that cannot be performed during certain diseases so it’s of crucial importance that you carefully fill in the case history form.
Besides thorough medical examination, an x-ray photograph of the patient’s teeth is also made. We make the diagnosis on the basis of these and work on possible treatment alternatives together.
What’s a treatment plan?
The treatment plan is made in close cooperation with your dentist so that you know what awaits you during treatments. This is necessary because that way, even the cost is predictable since only those interventions will be performed which you prearranged with your dentist. The treatment plan is actually a timetable that includes the number of necessary visits and the description of each intervention.
Besides professionalism, the treatment plan is a guarantee for you to receive every necessary treatment without any needless interventions.
How often is it necessary to go to dental screenings?
Are dental procedures accompanied by pain?
There are so many toothpastes on the market, which one should I choose?
Is X-Radiation harmful to my health? What happens if several radiographs need to be done?
DENTAL IMPLANT
Can dental implants be placed next to natural teeth?
Who is suitable for dental implants?
Some dentists will decline to place implants if smoking cannot be reduced or given up altogether.
If you have any other complicated medical problems that you think might affect your suitability for implants then please speak to us, we will be able to get your situation quickly assessed – it is rare to have health problems that prevent the use of dental implants.
How many teeth can be supported by dental implants?
Occasionally, it is even possible to join natural teeth to implants with a conventional bridge thus saving the expense of an additional implant.
In the upper jaw, bone density is generally poorer than in the lower and if you have no teeth at all, most treatment providers will want to place a minimum of 8 implants to support a complete arch of 12 or more replacement teeth. In the lower jaw, the bone towards the front of the mouth is often very strong and as a direct result, fewer dental implants may be needed than are required to treat a whole upper jaw.
How long does dental implant treatment take?
Bruxism and dental lmplants
Is it uncomfortable when the dental implants are placed?
For most patients, any of the simple painkillers you might take for a headache will be all that is needed for a few days. If you experience more discomfort than this, contact your treatment provider who can prescribe a stronger medication. During the first few days you should report any unexpected levels of pain or swelling so that it can be assessed. If in doubt always ask for advice, as early detection of a problem will often lead to a simpler solution. You may also be asked to take a course of antibiotics and to follow some simple procedures such as rinsing with salt water or an antiseptic mouth rinse. It is important that you carry out these instructions.
What must be avoided during dental implant placement?
Lower Jaw – In the lower jaw the most important anatomical structure to be avoided is the ‘inferior dental nerve’. This nerve runs from the area behind the wisdom teeth, passes under the molars and emerges onto the skin of the face in the region where your premolar teeth are or used to be. This is why a normal dental anaesthetic produces a numb lip even when the needle was placed right at the back of the mouth. If this nerve is disturbed or damaged during the placement of dental implants it can lead to temporary or even permanent numbness of the lip on the affected side. This is a rare but important complication.
BONE GRAFT
What can causes bone loss?
Dentures – Many patients report that after a while their dentures become progressively looser and do not fit as well as they once did. Initially the increased rate of bone loss following extractions is responsible for the observed deterioration of denture fit. Over the long-term it is the direct effect of chewing forces that causes slow resorption of supporting bone. Most people who have had dentures for many years will have needed a reline procedure to compensate for this bone loss. Therefore the longer dentures are worn, the more the amount of bone available for dental implants may be reduced.
Can dental implants preserve bone?
If you do not have enough bone for dental implants what can be done?
So far we have covered the building blocks that are part of routine implant placement. This has included the initial examination and diagnosis, sedation during surgery and what to expect after the implants have been placed. However, for some people, bone loss after the removal or loss of teeth leaves them without enough to secure an implant.
Sinus augmentation – In the upper jaw above the back teeth, it is possible to increase the height of bone available by creating new bone in the sinus. This procedure is called a ‘sinus augmentation’. A skilled surgeon can deliver very predictable results in this location and without the general success of this technique many patients would be unable to have dental implants in a part of the mouth where teeth are so commonly missing.
Onlay grafting – There are many ways in which bone can be added to, however one simple concept is to take a piece of bone from somewhere else and secure it as an ‘onlay graft’ to a deficient area. The new piece of bone will slowly join to the underlying region and when healed and mature, an implant can be placed in a more favourable position.
Where can you get extra bone from?
What are the alternatives to your own bone for grafting?
New bone can take anything from 4 to 6 months before it is ready to receive dental implants. Do not be in a hurry to move to the next stage. If you need a large volume of bone it will take longer to mature than a small amount.
If you do not have enough bone what can be done?
Sinus augmentation – In the upper jaw above the back teeth, it is possible to increase the height of bone available by creating new bone in the sinus. This procedure is called a ‘sinus augmentation’. A skilled surgeon can deliver very predictable results in this location and without the general success of this technique many patients would be unable to have dental implants in a part of the mouth where teeth are so commonly missing.